Managing Director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Olubunmi Kuku says the focus of her administration is enhanced safety, security, infrastructure and capacity development of her team.
Kuku who made this known at a stakeholders forum in Lagos by the ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in collaboration with its agencies noted that her focus over the last year has been on stabilising the airport environment and to the enabling areas.
She started by saying that work has been completed on the 18R Runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as both Runway 18L are active though with ongoing maintenance on 18L, adding that major rehabilitation to some Runways across the country have been carried out.
She stated that “We have done quiet a significant amount of work in Kano, Abuja, Enugu and Owerri. We however realise that there is still work to be done in Enugu and we take account of that”.
On the Airside, Kuku disclosed that a significant amount of work has been done in terms of wide life management, bird strikes still continue to exist, as they engage with the communities and neighbourhood on the treatment of sewage as well as waste separation process.
On Security areas, the FAAN boss revealed that a number of explosive detector equipment as well as screening devices have been deployed to some international Airports.
She noted that FAAN was able to strengthen the workforce of the aviation security personnel as they were able train and recertify over 3, 000 aviation security personnel.
She further added that on the capacity building perceptive about 3, 238 staff were trained. This also includes operators and handlers who are working on the airside..
She noted that “We have completed the Recertification of both Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja with the support of the NCAA and there is quiet a number of work that is also going on to make sure that we can certify Port Harcourt and Kano Airport, that work is actually ongoing “.
“We have also made significant strides in emergency management, earning recognition from Airports Council international ACI for our resilience programmes ”
She said they recorded a hitch free Hajj operations last year and completed the rehabilitation of Hajj terminals in Kaduna, ilorin, Maiduguri, Yola, Abuja, Katsina and Kano as they are hoping to complete before Hajj this year, Sokoto, Gombe, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
She disclosed that they have also embarked on electrical projection to address the issue of power especially lagos which experienced power outage, as the power panel at the lagos Airport has been upgraded, as well as Enugu and Kano.
“In Abuja Airport we started project around the terminal facilities, upgrade toilets facilities” .
she noted that at the Lagos Airport the E arrival was recently commissioned and there is also ongoing renovation for the D wing
Kuku disclosed that the Honourable Minister had mandated them to enhance accessibility for passengers with disabilities and project Gateway will be a key driver in the initiative.
The FAAN boss also disclosed that across Airports remarking of Airfield lighting is underway, upgrading both lagos and Abuja airports.
“In Ilorin for the first time , we successfully conducted night operations for the first time during Hajj based on upgrade of Airfield lighting ”
She noted that there is WiFi at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos adding that passenger experience is the focus for FAAN in 2025 and ensuring that Nigeria’s airports meet international standards in service delivery and operational efficiency.
She noted that “Our major airports lagos and Abuja are going through complete renovation with consideration for transit hubs at both terminals ”
She further disclosed that the E gate was launched which was done by FAAN on the Depature wing while the E gate on the arrival wing was done with the support of Immigration.
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