By Oluwatosin Maliki
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on Friday said that all five international airport terminals are in a state of disrepair.
He made the statement when he received the report from the Task Force set up to relocate foreign airlines from the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Keyamo expressed his happiness, thanking the members of the Task Force for accepting to serve the nation selflessly, further noting that the Lagos airport accounts for 60% of entry points and exit into Nigeria.
This was revealed in a statement by the Head, Press and Public Affairs in the Aviation Ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi. The report of the task force committee was submitted to the office of the minister.
The Minister recalled the fire incident of September 6, 2023, which prompted the immediate relocation of all airlines from the old terminal which generated public outcry.
Furthermore, he described it as an unfortunate incident, assuring that adequate measures will be put in place to prevent such an occurrence in the future.
Meanwhile, assuring the Task Force of the execution of the recommendation as soon as possible, the minister also directed that a meeting be held with the contractors handling the airport on issues regarding substandard equipment and the possibility of opening up more entry points into the airport including the expansion of their work schedule which is part of the Public Private Partnership agreement.
In regards to issues of a complete comprehensive plan for the airports, Keyamo emphasized that having a master plan will eradicate wastage and encourage concessionaires to make the airports a hub indeed.
Furthermore, he noted that the master plan will factor in the existing structures, while the renovation of the old terminal will not be disrupted.
Hassan Musa, the team leader of the Task Force, said that part of the findings indicated that the fire outbreak which necessitated the sudden movement of all airlines to Terminal 2, worsened the challenges that has been existing since operations in April 2022.
He also said among other things that some equipment installed at Terminal 2 are not of international standard when compared to international airports, noting also that there are no adequate entrance and exits to Terminal 2 to meet international standard requirements which the consequence could be disastrous.
In September, the minister of aviation had established a Task Force committee to find solutions to the challenges facing the relocation of commercial airlines to the new terminal within the shortest possible period.
Members that constituted the task force committee include; the retired PS and ex-Director of the Department of Air Transport Management, Hassan Musa (Team Leader); General Manager Aerodrome, NCAA, Adebayo Oladipo; and Special Advisers to the minister, Mrs. Uyoyou Edhekpo, Mrs. Uyoyou Edhekpo, and Mr. Henry Agbebire.