As Nigeria celebrates its 64th year independence anniversary under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the administration’s drive to recalibrate the air transport industry continues to get global attention.
This feat, has not come by happenstance, as the appointment of Mr Festus Keyamo as the supervising Minister in charge of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the team of stature professionals , including the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Oluwaseun Olubunmi Kuku continue to work road the clock to change the air transport narrative.
Through a series of intentional policies, upgrading existing facilities at airports across the country, and other measures intended to achieve efficiency for the country’s critical air transport infrastructure, the sector is experiencing commendable transformation.
Under the Tinubu administration, FAAN , with the support of the Ministry of Aviation, has embarked on lofty projects and implemented an enviable initiative that is drawing the global aviation community’s attention to Nigeria.
Significantly, FAAN under the watch of Mrs Kuku, an astute financial expert and strategist has recorded many quick wins not limited to enhanced security architecture at airports, increased capacity building for all cadres of personnel, equipping of the airports with the latest surveillance and security gadgets as well as a welcoming ambience where the travel experience is gaining passengers’ applause.
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FAAN , under her watch is taking steps further to rework the template for engaging would-be investors to make the airports more viable ventures with the adoption of the best operational model to increase travel footfalls and bring in many revenue into government’s coffers.
Under the leadership of Mrs Kuku, FAAN has depeened collaboration with other aviation agencies and para – military organisations working at the airports to improve safety, scale up intelligence sharing to boost safety and security in border management through its many gateways.
To meet up with global standards and make the airports move user-friendly, FAAN under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has introduced measures aimed at stamping out touting and other unauthorized activities at the airports.
Besides, massive upgrades of operational safety and other aeronautical facilities are ongoing across the country to make Nigerian aerodromes one most user-friendly across the globe.
Improved facilitation and other interventions, FAAN under the leadership of Mrs Kuku believes will position air transportation as one of the key drivers needed to boost economic growth.
To acknowledge the efforts of FAAN in its management’s drive to become one of the best airport groups in the world , the Airports Council International ( ACI Africa ), a global body that is the voice of airports recently recognised two of its terminals,Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport for their exceptional dedication to Airport Emergency Management And Resilience.
FAAN, under the leadership of Mrs Kuku, continues to push for fresh ideas to make airports more viable as managers are encouraged to seek investors into their aerodromes, given the inherent opportunities in their jurisdictions.
As the Federal Government wraps up proposals to get the economy on a strong footing, FAAN as part of the forward looking organisations is putting finishing touches to its blueprint to contribute significantly to the overall growth of the country with intentional agro – processing infrastructure at airports designated for cargo to increase participation in export.