... unserviceable aircraft, safety risk, minister gives owners 3 months to remove them
The old Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA Terminal in Lagos is to be shut down to pave the way for total overhaul.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus keyamo, SAN, says, the terminal had become an eyesore not fit to cater to the needs of passengers, airlines and other airport users.
He ordered the stoppage of all contracts awarded to repair some facilities in the old terminal as this had because unnecessary since it had been penciled for an overhaul.
This is just as the Minister also disclosed that, the newly built Chinese terminal will now be put into full use by airlines and the passengers.
Speaking during an inspection of facilities at the airport today, Keyamo said, since the inauguration of the new terminal, foreign airlines have refused to relocate to the terminal because of space constraints due to the design of the terminal runway that cannot accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.
He said, plans have been concluded to ensure the new terminal is used as the old one would be closed for renovation and to this end, he has directed that, all foreign airlines relocate to the new terminal by October first this year.
“So what is the solution to this? We have said we must use what we have for now. I am giving the international and all the other airlines up to October 1 to move from the old terminal to the new terminal. What we are going to do temporarily is that we are going to shut down the old terminal and sort out all the issues regarding the renovation of the old terminal”.
According to him, buses would be procured to move passengers in and out of the terminal, adding that, the runway of the terminal would be expanded and for that to happen, the impediments to the expansion which are the hangers belonging to Evergreen Apple Nigeria, EAN and Dominion hanger owed by Bishop Oyedepo of Winner’s Chapel would be relocated.
The Minister during the inspection frown on unserviceable aircraft littering the domestic wing of the airport runway and directed that, the owners remove them or else, the government would dispose of them.
According to him, the unserviceable aircraft were occupying space meant for the expansion of the apron of the runway and he termed their being there as a safety risk to the environment.
Mr. Keyamo also gave matching orders to the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN, to ensure the weeds around the airports reduced, the receiving baggage areas befitting and to partner with the private sector to brand the terminals with adverts not only to change the ambience but also to generate more revenue for FAAN.
He stated that, his desire was to make sure FAAN generates more revenue with its facilities to further enhance seamless facilitation of passengers, give comfort and security.
The Minister was accompanied on the inspection by the Managing Director FAAN, Mr. Kabir Mohammed, his management staff and representatives from the MMA 2 managed by Bicourtney Aviation Services, BASL.
Places inspected by Keyamo include, the VIP lounge, arrivals and departures at the GAT 1 and MMA2, Fire station, airsides of the airport, perimeter fences, the MMIA ongoing runway rehabilitation, new cargo terminal, the private hangers of the EAN and Dominion and the old and new international airport terminals.
