The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Airports

  • Group decries low manpower at airports

    Members of the National Air Traffic Communicators Association of Nigeria (NACAN) have decried the inadequate number of personnel at the 24 functional airports.

    Speaking during the opening of the association’s fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, its President, Mr Nkambo George said there were only 97 licensed communication personnel nationwide, adding that they were grossly inadequate to cover the airports in the country.

    Nkambo, who also stressed the need for an aeronautical fixed telecommunications network, a ground-to-ground operation for safe, efficient, economic air navigation, said some stations, such as Kebbi, Bauchi and Dutse lack the facilities.

    According to the NACAN president, there was no recruitment in the department between 1989 and 2012. He then  appealed to the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to approve the basic training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria for officers to reduce the acute manpower shortage.

    Nkambo noted that some officers in NAMA were hell-bent on merging or integrating two departments with distinct functions.

    He claimed that mandatory local and foreign courses for officers had been put on hold for more than five years even when there were allocations for them.

  • How to achieve concession of airports, by stakeholders

    How to achieve concession of airports, by stakeholders

    If Federal Government wants to achieve successful concession of its airports it should put in a transparent, competitive legal framework and template that would attract global players in airport management, experts and stakeholders in the aviation sector have cautioned,

    They said though concession of airports is the way to go to make the gateways generate more funds, become efficient and become hubs, they should be handed over to firms that have track record of performance.

    They cautioned that until controversies and contractual abuse associated with previous concessions are resolved, new investors may be discouraged to put money into Nigerian airports

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the stakeholders’ conference convoked last week in Lagos.

    The conference convoked by CheckIn Nigeria, an industry resource and consultancy outfit was borne out of growing concerns and agitation on the vexed issue of privatisation/concession of Nigerian airports, which has been in the industry’s agenda in the last few weeks.

    The template for discussions was predicated on growing awareness over the subject of airport concessions, which has assumed fundamental dimensions flowing from drive by government to concession some airports with the terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano as the pilot.

    Setting the tone for discussions, the convener of the conference and Chief Executive Officer, Check In Nigeria, Mr Michael Chikeka, while welcoming guests said the conference became imperative because of the avalanche of issues raised on the subject matter.

    He noted that the differing concerns and views expressed on the subject matter: Airport Concessions/Privatisation were borned by concerns that are both genuine, fundamental and germane.

    He noted that other areas of concerns hovers around the establishment of proper legal framework for concession, especially as it affects the binding threat between future administrations to existing agreements.

    He said: “Such framework most industry analysts think that all these are issues that should be properly addressed and sorted out before inviting new concessionaires. The existing level playing field between government and current concessionaires will be important , hence the need for government to address all outstanding rancor , with a view to smoothening the agreement before embarking on  new concessions.”

    In his presentation, Professor Pat Utomi raised fundamental concerns about values, inconsistency in existing concession agreements, which does not inspire investor confidence.

    He pinpoints that despite clamour for private capital to fund public assets, including airports, previous sour agreements with some concessions have not put the industry in good light.

    Utomi insists that without transparency, corporate governance and adherence to legal agreements, the decision to go the way of concession may not be easily achieved.

    On his part, industry veteran and former President of Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore harped on the need to follow the template for concession already established by ICAO , which specifically defines the parameters for tenure, aspects of the airport to be handed out, who takes care of the airport assets and other issues bordering on welfare and fate of personnel.

    The Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Captain Nogie Meggison, observed that industry players were yet to get a template of the model to be adopted by government.

    He said as much as government needs airports to develop Nigeria into a hub, the question of what parts of the airports should be concessioned remains in the front burner.

    From a legislative standpoint, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chairman of Senate Committee on Privatisation urged participants to consider airport concession/privatisation as the way to go because government does not have the operational, creative and technical capacity to run profitable airports.

    Echoing similar sentiments, former Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren sought clarifications over what aspects of the airport should be concessioned, even as he observed that lingering litigations over existing airport concessions could serve as a disincentive to would be investors.

  • ‘How Lagos, Abuja airports can become subregional hubs’

    ‘How Lagos, Abuja airports can become subregional hubs’

    How can Nigerian airports become sub- regional hubs in West and Central Africa? It is by ensuring that transit facilities are provided at the airports, Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and others have said.

    Part of the transit facilties include: smart terminals with state-of-the-art technology, runways, aprons, taxi ways, hotels, shopping lounge and spars, among others that can give passengers’ comfort.

    Sirika, who spoke in Lagos, said Nigeria’s geographical location is not enough to make the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, hubs as the facilities are yet to be upgraded to accommodate large aircraft, including Airbus 380 and the latest Boeing 777.

    He said efforts should be made to  fix facilities at these airports to improve service delivery, in order to attract the right passenger traffic expected at airport hubs.

    Besides the provision of facilities, there is the need to pursue a private sector driven national carrier that will drive passenger traffic at other airports to feed the hubs.

    Sirika also canvassed the establishment of aircraft maintenance repair centre, otherwise known as MRO, to attract capital into the airport. The minister listed other steps that could  accelerate the hub status, to include the establishment of an aircraft leasing company to facilitate airplane acquisiction for Nigerian operators.

    The government, he said, was not leaving anything to chance to ensure that the airports became hubs for West and Central Africa. Part of the strategy, he said, includes concession of airports for effective management.

    Sirika described concession as the best way to attract investors into airports operations, saying would-be investors will pump money into the terminals to ensure that the facilities are top of the range.

    He said most airports across the globe, including London’s Heathrow and some in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are not owned by governments but operated under concession arrangements to achieve efficiency.

    Sirika said: “We can’t create a hub from Nigerian airports as they are. This is simply because the facilities are less than deserving the requirements to become hubs.   The operational facilities are not adequate, even, wide-bodied aircraft cannot be handled by Nigerian  airports because of the size of their runways, aprons and taxi ways.

    “Apart from the constrains of facilities, the atmosphere within Nigerian airports are not the ideal, it is extremely difficult to attract passengers. If you go to Heathrow airport, or Dubai airport, you will  see and experience an ideal airport environment you don’t want to leave.”

    He said Nigerian airports are currently handling 15 million passengers annually, but with concession and  hub status,  the condition of the airports could be turned around in 24 months. “We would be able to handle between 70 to 100 million passengers annually, while Lagos alone can handle 15 million if the airports are good.

    “Let me tell you that about 40 per cent of passengers like to transit through fantastic airports like Dubai just because of the facilities and experience,” Sirika, said.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meg-gison, said Nigeria’s geographical location is not suitable enough to make its airports become hubs. He canvassed strong indigenous airlines that should be supported by the government.

    Such airlines, Meggison  said,  would distribute passengers from Europe, America, Asia and other destinations outside the continent to various parts of Africa when they arrive at the airport that operated as a hub.

    He said: “People coming from America can transit through the Lagos Airport  to Accra, Niger Republic,  South Africa, as well as  everywhere on the continent.“

    The airline operator  said since Nigeria has the natural position and population, which would provide manpower, the country will need to get the airport amenities right; adding that there is an urgent need to upgrade airport runways, lights and terminals.

    He said if Nigeria becomes a hub for Africa, that would mean more taxes from food, hotels and landing charges from airlines. Aviation is not airline only; there is a service that goes to it,” Meggison said.

    Other experts said the advantages that come from being a hub include revenues from payment of landing and parking fees, servicing of aircraft, airport taxes, blossoming of the hotel industry and revenue from aviation fuel.

    Citing an example of Dubai, Meggison noted that Dubai leveraged on its natural position to become a natural hub between the Eastern world and the Western world.

    He said: “At the Murtala Muhammed Airport, there are no amenities for transit passengers. So, passengers will not want to spend money to transit through Nigeria, rather, they will transit through Dubai, where there are comfort facilities.

    “If airline companies like Delta Airline are making a turnover of N2 billion and 60 per cent of passenger load  from Nigeria, then there is a need to harness the opportunities,” he added.

    However, few months ago, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, said  the new terminals at Nigeria’s major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Enugu, will make Nigeria the hub of aviation in Africa, when completed before the end of the year.

  • ‘Cargo airports without facilities won’t work’

    ‘Cargo airports without facilities won’t work’

    Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) Managing Director Mr. Rizwan Kadri believes it is good that some states are considering having cargo airports.But he advises that the airports must have amenities to facilitate exports. Kelvin Osa-Okunbor met him.

    Some states are building cargo airports to promote agro-allied exports. What should be done to ensure they succeed?

    The cargo sub-sector is one of the most prominent, viable and promising of all the sectors in the aviation industry; most of the airlines earn a lot of revenue from this sector. Yes, it is a good idea, but then, merely announcing cargo airports without adequate facilities will not work. So, whatever they are doing has to be planned. Building cargo airports where you have the farmers but without infrastructure, such as good road network around them, cold room, as well as other storage facilities, will be tantamount to mere jamboree.

    The government has announced plans to privatise some of the major airports. How should this be done to avoid the inefficiencies in previously privatised entities?

    It’s a good plan, but it has to be done well because private models have worked everywhere. One thing to avoid is selling these infrastructure to friends or people without the requisite capacity to operate them efficiently. Airports are not just for commercial interest, they are very sensitive facilities for the country; the airports must not only be good, they must be user-friendly as well. So, everything you do here must be well planned.

    When you privatise, the government relaxes and the private operators take the ownership, put in their money and manage them to make profit; they will not like to have any undue interference because his money is involved. Private airports will really work if they are planned well.

    What are the effects of the foreign exchange regime on the cargo handling sector?

    Forex has huge effects on the cargo business. Since Nigeria depends largely on imports, the exchange rate problem also affects imports because what an importer spends on commodities before has now doubled. As a result of this, every item that comes into the country has become expensive since our international trade depends on the dollar.

    The airline business is further compounded by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s new forex policy, which makes it very difficult, or almost impossible for foreigners operating in the airline industry to repatriate their earnings. The exchange rate has led to a significant drop in the volume of imports into the country. Imports is paid for mainly in dollars; so if somebody bought a product last year and the same product is costing almost double this year, what will he do? And because the cost of importation has gone so high, the market is low, even some of the traders have stopped importing.

    Why is it that over the years the cargo sub-sector of aviation has not been active in contributing meaningfully to the economy?

    You see, during the oil boom, people tended to neglect this sub-sector. However, due to the dwindling oil prices, coupled with the downturn in the country’s economy, exports have become one of the major factors and cargoes always play major economic role for any country. The link between getting the stuffs in and out of any country is cargo related, whether air freight or sea freight, you need the cargo operation to succeed. So, basically, cargo plays a very important role in aviation. My vision for cargo is to have a fantastic cargo operation that will play its expected role in the light of the current financial challenges Nigeria is facing.

    Last year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ranked Africa, particularly Nigeria, low. Why? How do we improve on it?

    A lot of factors are responsible for it. First, the government never promoted the cargo business. During the oil boom era, people made so much money from there but neglected other areas including the cargo sub-sector. Export has not really played its expected role before now because no serious and conscious efforts have been made in the past to promote it. What should have constituted the bulk of Nigeria’s export are agricultural produce, but like I said, conscious effort was not made in the past to promote it because of over dependence on petrol export.

    How can this imbalance be corrected?

    To correct the imbalance, basically, the government should look out for more exports. It should motivate its people, who I see to be very hardworking. When a country has that, the country has an asset in that it has an industrious and rich population that could readily provide the needed labour. When this is done there would be more than enough to engage the cargo operation.

    Secondly, for exports to thrive there should be a lot of incentives given to the farmers so that they can produce more for export. The roads, transportation and connectivity are not so good to bring in goods to Lagos or the nearest airport; the storage facilities are not there; all these have to be put in place. Besides, a lot of backing from the government is required. We need a lot of government support for the aviation industry to grow; we have to do something about the customs duties that are very high; help the farmers out, have production within the country for export, identify key countries we want to export to. Above all, government has a role to play in encouraging the cargo sub-sector to grow.

    The IATA has raised concerns over high airport taxes and charges in some African countries, including Nigeria. How is this affecting cargo and ground handling business?

    Interestingly, this observation has been on for a long time. It has been a huge area of concern for investors in the aviation sector. I think IATA has passed the message across, the way the message should be couched that African countries need to  do something about prohibitive chages and taxes. If government does not do something urgent about this, the negative impact on the industry is dire. I am convinced that the relevant agencies, have noted the concern and are doing something to address the situation .

    In Nigeria, I am reliably informed that a committee set up by the government on airport charges and charges as it affects all operators is being looked into and I am sure the matter will be resolved to make the operating environment friendly. When charges are too high, it does not encourage cost recovery for any investor.

    In Nigeria, ground handling companies are already feeling the impact of high charges and taxes. The way to go for me, is that the relevant agencies of government should engage operations in line with global standards to fix charges  and taxes that would achieve a win win situation. That for me is the way to go. If the industry is feeling the impact of high taxes and charges, this has a huge effect on costs of running the business.

  • Workers reject planned concession of airports

    Workers reject planned concession of airports

    Workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) under the auspices of the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have rejected plans by the federal government to concession the four major airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.

    The federal government said the plan was because it could no longer fund the development of airport facilities due to its lean resources.

    It welcomed private sector investment in the growth of the facilities through Public, Private Partnership (PPP).

    But reacting to the plan, Assistant General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, accused government of not putting the interest of the workers into consideration.

    Speaking at the weekend, he threatened workers would resist the planned concession.

    He recalled when the defunct Nigeria Airways was liquidated, workers were left to die without pay off or pensions, which rose to over N72 billion.

    According to him: “There is nothing wrong with it if it is done with honesty and purpose- driven.

    “Unfortunately we do not believe, particularly with what we are seeing that Nigeria is ripe for concession and privatisation of public utilities.”

    Abioye added all efforts in the past to concession airport facilities failed due to lack of objectivity or transparency.

    He claimed the few that could be described as successful were skewed in favour of investors and against the interest of government which represent the public interest.

    He wondered why government chose to concession the most lucrative airports, which are the mainstay of FAAN’s revenues.

    According to him: “So why would it be Murtala Muhammed Airport, Kano airport and Port Harcourt airport that government wants to sell?

    “What is the reason why the other 16 airports that are underutilised are not considered for this purpose?

    “This is because my understanding is that PPP is very good to bring about quality service and so on and so forth.

    “We are aware that people have been going round our airports making inspections and all that but unfortunately the government is taking us for granted.

    “What do you want to concession? Is it the building or the facilities inside? What happens to the federal public servants that are working in those airports?”

  • New security measures for airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced new measures to improve security at airports.

    According to its Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma, the authority has begun checks on personnel working in restricted areas of the airport, such as runways, tarmacs, apron and other areas.

    In an interview in Lagos at the weekend, Dunoma said FAAN was developing intelligence among security agencies to enable it to analyse threats and vulnerabilities to aviation safety.

    He said the authority was also reviewing the procedures for the issuance of On Duty Cards (ODC) to ensure that airlines’ personnel, concessionaires and others working at the air side are not a threat to safety and security.

    Part of the reasons for the profiling is to ensure that only workers are issued ODCs that grant them unrestricted access to such areas.

    Dunoma said: “Security is already in place, the only thing is that once things happen, you need to beef it up to a certain level above what we already have on ground. Such measures have been put in place.

    “ All the airports have been advised through a circular that they should improve security intelligence in all  airports, especially on the landside,” he said.

    “ FAAN is developing intelligence, which has become an effective tool in result-oriented security apparatus.

    “Intelligence has been part of the security system with hi-tech and ever- advancing security equipment.The agency has ensured effective security coverage of the airports over the years.

    “Intelligence has always been there and hi-tech is a thing that is very dynamic; there are always changes; there are always new technologies that we need.

    “But I want to assure you that we already have some technologies we have deployed, and these are being used by our security personnel at the airports to make sure that as you move around they are there watching you.

    “From time to time, we improve on what we have as technology gets updated. Intelligence gathering is a normal thing; we have personnel doing that and analysis is also very important.

    “ Once it is analysed we share this intelligence with security agencies around the airports to make sure they take necessary actions as dictated by the analysis.”

    He said security personnel in FAAN and support security operatives undergo continuous training to ensure that they are fit and updated to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

    “There are a lot of efforts that have been put in by various security agencies and the Federal Government to make sure that our airports are secured. We have never disputed the possibility of insider threat.

    “As people working for you, you cannot rule out the issue, but what we do in order to forestall that is that anybody that comes and wants to access any part of the airports, whether staff, personnel from government agencies or workers of our concessionaires, must go through some checks before we access them on-duty cards.

    “We subject them to background checks, especially if they are staff. This is key and once we found you wanting we deny you the access and we send message to your agency and we do this periodically.

    “Once we give you ODC and you want to renew it after six months, we carry out another background check.

    “Through this we are able to check insider threat. And if we get a report of any questionable character at the airport, we make sure we get the person out,” he also said.

  • Fed Govt moves against terror attack at airports

    Fed Govt moves against terror attack at airports

    As part of efforts to improve security at airports, the Federal Government, at the weekend, began a security profiling of aviation personnel at the runway, tarmac, apron and other restricted areas of airport terminals.

    Part of the reasons for carrying out the critical safety and personnel security profiling is to ensure that only airport workers at the air side without suspicious character are issued On Duty Cards that grant them unrestricted access to critical areas of the airport .

    These include airport runways, taxi-ways, apron and tarmac.

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Saleh Dunoma said this in Lagos at the weekend.

    He said government is developing intelligence among security agencies to avert any terror threat at airports.

    The FAAN’s MD said the intelligence gathering involves analysis of vulnerability to ensure effective security coverage of airports.

    Dunoma said FAAN has developed efficient security system in response to new security challenges.

    He said: “Security is already in place, the only thing is that once things happen you need to beef it up to a certain level above what we already have on ground. Such measures have been put in place.

    “ All airports have been advised through a circular that they should improve security intelligence, especially on the landside,” he said.

    “ FAAN is developing intelligence, which has become effective tool in result-oriented security apparatus.

    “ Intelligence has been part of the security system together with hi-tech and ever advancing security equipment. The agency has ensured effective security coverage of the airports over the years.”

  • Aviation pensioners oppose concession, privitasation of airports 

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), branch said they are opposed to plans by the Federal Government to concession or privatise four airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt .

    They said the move is against national interest as the persons, or company to be contracted to handle these international airports could be hired, to allow weapons into the country .

    Speaking at a briefing in Lagos yesterday, the National Chairman of NUP, FAAN, Comrade Rasak Ope and the Administrative Secretary, Comrade Emeka Njoku, said previous attempts by government to achieve any form of concession in the aviation sector has been fraught with controversies .

    They said rather than concession the airports, FAAN, should be allowed to run existing airports without interference, saying the last administration excluded FAAN from privatisation, or concession based on its security implications .

    They urged the Federal Government to focus on airports rather than privatalising these viable airport terminals, adding that  since the Minister of Aviation, Capt Hadi Sirika  is determined to make the airports profitable, he should concentrate on unviable airports and make them viable.

    The union officials explained that airports across the world, represent a  country’s sovereignty, hence handing them to individuals or group of people portends danger to the country.

    They said previous attempts aimed at privatising some government entities, including  the Power Holding Company of Ngeria, Ajaokuta Steel, Nigerian Ielecommunication and the Nigeria Airways, did not yield the desired results.

    “How can we give out our national heritage to individuals to operate, thereby undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, losing sight of the security implications, which is supposed to be paramount in every sphere of our national life? they queried, stressing that airports should not be seen as buying and selling ventures, where profit should be the yardstick

    “Airports represent the public interest, such as economic, social activities and international connections, from country to country and state to state,” they said, pointing out that  contracting our four major airports to a person or company to handle could be dangerous as interest parties could be  hired or compromised to  allow weapons into the country, including people of questionable characters.

    “They can use this laxity to flock into the country and forment trouble which can lead to the  deaths of citizens.

    They argued that it was inappropriate  at this time when Nigeria is still battling with Boko Haram’s agitation  state of Biafra and militancy. Therefore we should not open more ways for trouble in the name of “wanting our airports to be more viable and putting Nigerians in danger,”

    They questioned whether the Act establishing FAAN has been abrogated or amended by the National Assembly to warrant the implementation of this plaaned concessin, or privatisation.

  • Airports as tool in destination branding

    Airports as tool in destination branding

    Airports play significant roles in destination branding; but strangely, some countries still do not see any reason to invest in building a befitting airport. Experts highlight how airport branding can drive investment into the country, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    The brand experience of a destination is like the first impression one gets of a person. The English man says it is the real impression; it lasts forever.

    In mo st cases, the experience one gets from a destination makes one to form an opinion about the brand. For a reporter who was a first-time visitor to South Africa to watch the final match of the last Orange African Cup of Nations at the Calabash Stadium, between the Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo of Zambia, the brand experience of the former apartheid enclave came on his arrival at the O.R Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.

    The airport presents visitors with a cherished consumer experience, such as convenience and hospitality. Beginning from the airport, ranked as third in Africa and 28th globally by Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based firm specialising in airline and airport research, everything appeared in order.

    As the plane landed, passing through the Avio Bridge, which leads visitors to the arrival lounge, the adverts adorning the airport walls confirmed why South Africa is leading other African countries in the chase for Cannes Lions, the global advert festivals where the world best adverts are showcased and picked.

    The conduct of the airport officials, spectacular billboards, wall and pillar wraps, airport bus transport, among electrifying indoor boardings, all provided an ambience for brand promotion.

    The quick conveyance of luggage and a fast-tracked immigration counter cut short the amazing experience and sight at the airport. The O.R Tambo Airport is not the best in South Africa. It trails South Africa’s Cape Town International Airport and Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

    The allure of modern technology in O.R Tambo reflects monster media digital platforms, baggage carousel wraps, mobile media, the Digital Passenger Assistance Service Systems (DPASS) and massive light emission diode (LED) screens enhance traveller’s experience. But most travellers passing through major airports in Nigeria on their way to watch the final match wrote them off. The airports they argued, seem not to reflect the multi-billion naira wasted in rebranding the facilities.

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, like others, has remained a sour point in Nigeria’s destination branding project. From the hassles of travelling through the dilapidated roads to the MMIA, the heat at the departure lounge, the long queues at the immigration points, all the way to the waiting lounge, it’s all about unpalatable experience. A report by Cable News Network (CNN) rating some Nigerian airports rated MMIA as one of the world’s worsts.

    While the airports of countries such as France leave travellers with memories of its Eiffel Tower, New York for its Statue of Liberty, Singapore for its cleanliness, and Malaysia for the Petronas Twin Towers, Nigeria’s touch point remains an issue brand experts are yet to fully come to terms with.

    Mrs. Funmilola Ashaye, a Void and Allocation Officer at Genesis HA, a United Kingdom-based company, will not forget in a hurry her experience when she came home for the Easter. She was apalled that eight years after she left the country, the MMIA remained in bad shape, even worst than she left it.

    She said she has been seeing some pictures and videos of the airports on social media but felt it was mere marketing stunts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    “I could see that the ambience is fast changing and it will look better when the current facelift is completed. I think it’s more amazing now. The lounge is looking world class now,” she said.

    Underscoring the importance of airports in nation rebranding campaigns, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DDB Lagos, Mr. Ikechi Odigbo said the airport is the first touch point to position Nigeria as a brand. “It’s the very first touch point to brand Nigeria at the international market place. Whatever brand message you want to pass across to a first time visitor starts from your airport. Although, it goes beyond the rebuilding but the maintenance must be robust so that visitors can experience convenience,” he said.

    The Chief Executive Director of Noah’s Ark, Mr. Lanre Adisa said airports say a lot about a country. The environments have a way of positioning a nation as a brand seeking good perception.

    “It’s a perception thing. Investing in the airport is a worthwhile venture. To a first-time visitor, it speaks volumes about the government,” he said.

    He said a good airport makes visitors see the country as a good investment destination and a good destination for brands.

    With a recent score card on MMIA by the United States Transportation Security Administration (USTSA) over its compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Standard and Recommended Practices, the General Manager, Communication of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the efforts is aimed at improving the touch points and bringing them to compete with others not only in Africa but across the globe.

    According to him, recent figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attest to the fact that Nigeria has grown appreciably in recent years; from 13,891,677 passengers in 2010 to 14,899,958 passengers lifted in 2013.

    ”Surely this growth is the outcome of deliberate strategic transformation by the government in the sector and indeed, a key performance indicator that the reforms are yielding positive outcomes,” he said.

    On the perception of the airports by tourists, he said people’s perception cannot be easily changed through talking until people go see and have a feel of the new change.

    However, Adisa, said the effort to remodel and rebrand the airports is a step in the right direction. He added that the culture of maintenance must be imbibed so that the facilities do no slip back to rot years after the completion of the remodeling.

    “An airport experience for travelers should exhibit convenience. The rebuilding will open up the country. A lot of travelers under this new rebuilding will be able to take direct flight to their destination rather than having to come to Lagos from U.S and still take another flight to another state,” Adisa said.

  • Fed Govt requires N25b to construct airports’ perimeter fences

    Fed Govt requires N25b to construct airports’ perimeter fences

    The Federal Government needs about N25 billion to construct perimeter and operational fences across  the 22 airports operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The sum will take care of the over 500 kilometre landmass across the 22 airports .

    General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati , who confirmed  this,  said the amount was arrived at  after a recent survey carried out by the authority.

    At the moment, only four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt have partial perimeter fencing. Failure to fence the airports has led to encroachments on the land.

    Dati said each of the 22 airports is about 50 kilometre long and would require serious investments for all of them to be properly fenced according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended practices.

    ICAO security guidelines, he said,  prescribes  that all airports must be secured with double perimeter fences.

    Dati explained that there are other safety measures FAAN has taken in line with international best practice to boost security and safety within the nation’s airports.

    He added that the agency introduced the perimeter patrol, built perimeter towers, which enables the Aviation Security, AVSEC, personnel and other security agencies  have  overview of the airport environment.

    This is in addition to the installation of  latest technologies in strategic locations to increase surveillance.

    He also maintained that most of the leakages observed in the past by analysts and other aviation stakeholders has been closed by the authority..

    He said: “About two months ago, we invited a team from Airport Council International, ACI, to carry out security audit of our airports and they identified some gaps, which needed to be closed and we were able to close those gaps.

    “That is why when TSA came calling about two weeks ago, we were given clean bill of health because all the loopholes have been closed.

    “Insider’s threat is another area that we are looking at. We profile anybody that works within the terminal or in the terminal in line with global standards. It is after passing that we issue them the On-Duty-Card, ODC. Even at that, the ODC also have some levels of restrictions such that it is not every holder that has access to every part of the terminal. We have different levels and colours based on the level of clearance you have received.”