Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo has today, received the report of the task force on the relocation of foreign airlines from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport old terminal to the new terminal in his office.
Keyamo, while receiving the report, thanked the members of the task force for accepting to serve the country selflessly. He said the Lagos airport account for 60% of entry point and exit into Nigeria. According to Keyamo, of all the 5 international airports in Nigeria, the old terminal of the Lagos airport is in a state of disrepair and he is committed to ensuring the overhaul of the terminal before the end of his administration.
He described the fire incident of the 6th of September, 2023 which necessitated the hasty relocation of all foreign airlines from the old terminal and the subsequent public outcry that followed the development as unfortunate, assuring that adequate measures will be put in place to avert future occurrence of such incident.
Promising to fully implement the recommendations of the task force as soon as possible, the minister directed that a meeting be held with the contractors handling the airport on issues of substandard equipment and the possibility of opening up other entry points into the airport including the expansion of their work schedule which is part of the PPP agreement.
On the issue of a complete comprehensive plan for the airports, he said, having a master plan will eradicate wastage and encourage concessionaires making the airports a hub indeed. Keyamo equally noted that the master plan will take into consideration the existing structures while renovation on the old terminal will not be disrupted.
Speaking earlier, the team leader of the task force, Engineer Hassan Musa, (retired), an ex-Director at the Department of Air Transport Management, while relating the expanded terms of reference of the task force committee said part of the findings shows that the fire incident which led to the sudden movement of all foreign flights to Terminal 2 compounded the challenges that has been existing since operations in April 2022.
He also said among other things that some equipment installed at the new terminal do not meet the international standard equipment for international airports noting also that there are no adequate entrance and exits to the new terminal to meet international standard requirements that could have future consequence.