Aviation minister seeks to revamp Nigeria’s international airports

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has reiterated the need for a master plan for the five international airports in Nigeria, as he received the report of the task force on the relocation of foreign airlines from the old terminal to the new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

According to a press release from the ministry, Keyamo thanked the task force members for their selfless service.

Keyamo said, “The old Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International airport is in a state of disrepair and I am committed to ensure the overhaul of the terminal before the end of my administration. I recall the fire incident of 6th September, 2023 which necessitated the hasty relocation of all airlines from the old terminal which generated public outcry as unfortunate assuring that adequate measures will be put in place to avert future occurrence of such incident.”

The minister also directed that a meeting be held with the contractors handling the airport on issues of substandard equipment.

“The possibility of opening up other entry points into the airport including expansion of their work schedule which is part of PPP agreement. Having a Master plan will eradicate wastage and encourage concessioners making the airports a hub indeed,” he said.

The team leader of the task force, Engineer Hassan Musa, a retired permanent secretary and ex-director of the Department of Air Transport Management, said that some of the findings showed that the fire incident which necessitated sudden movement of all airlines to Terminal 2 compounded challenges that has been existing since operations in April 2022.

He said, “Some equipment installed at Terminal 2 do not meet international standard equipment for international airports noting also that there are no adequate entrance and exits to Terminal 2 to meet international standard requirements which consequence could be disastrous.”