Recent measures taken by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN) under the leadership of the Managing Directo, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku have been justified following some issues that constituted focus of discussions at the just concluded Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference (WOCFA) held between July 2nd and 3rd, 2024 at Johannesburg, South Africa.
Generally, discussions at the IATA WOCFA Conference confirmed the fact that FAAN is on the right course in pursuit of its vision of becoming one of the best airport companies in the world.
Making his input on the first day of the conference, the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, emphasized the need for removal of visa restrictions to enable free movement of people and goods across the continent, stating that to achieve this, there is a need to work with Foreign Affairs Ministers across Africa.
Recently, FAAN took steps to make Nigeria’s airports safe and accessible by genuine tourists and travellers, alongside efforts to eliminate touting and other forms of criminal conducts around the airports.
The Minister equally made a case for adequate funding of air transport in Africa.
Also speaking at the event, IATA,s Regional Vice President for Africa & Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi called for pursuit of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which constitutes part of FAAN’s recent programmes.
Issues discussed at the sessions on July 3rd (Day 2) addressed the recent creation of a dedicated Department for Cargo Services in FAAN as stakeholders emphasized the need for improvement of trade facilitation, Air cargo Facilities and Infrastructure, Cargo Compliance, Closer collaboration amongst African countries and Stakeholders as well as Cargo Specialized Training for stakeholders.
Emphasis was placed on digitalization of passenger processing and how the embrace of robotics technology by airports in Africa would help to give customers further experience of speed, efficiency and excellence. The use of technology to drive efficiency has been part of FAAN’s priority agenda under the present dispensation.
Concerns about staffing challenges associated with embrace of technology as well as portability skill of aviation training in the airport system also received focus.
Stakeholders emphasized the need to train and engage fresh minds and to retain younger people in the airport system while encouraging professionals within the system to return so as to sustain the industry’s development which falls in line with the recent massive trainings conducted by FAAN’s training schools across the country.
FAAN’s recent efforts to optimize and improve revenue generation was equally justified by deliberations around airports revenue improvements.
