Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nigeria: Deplorable State Of Airports - Why Oduah Must Act Fast

Of all the modes of transportation, namely, land and sea, air transport is regarded as the fastest; it is also an exclusive zone in the transportation family. Those who choose this means of transport in the course of their businesses and jobs do so because they can afford to pay higher but stay neat and alert even after travelling a distance. It is by no means an all comers affair.

This explains why airports all over the world are cynosure of all eyes. Care is usually taken in choosing the site, designing and all the aesthetics that goes with it. Airports are located in their own world.There are a number of reasons for this. It is the first point of reception for foreigners who might be coming into the country for the first time.For this reason, airport workers are trained to be courteous as their conduct goes a long way to shape the impression of this traveler.

No effort is spared in making airports as comfortable and as cozy as it should be because travelers need to be in high spirit before they are taken to the heights.

In Nigeria,there are disturbing reports coming from different airports suggesting they are in deplorable state.These unpalatable revelations come from aviation experts, researchers, senior government officials and lawmakers only confirm that indeed, different airports at different locations in the country are in different stages of neglect.

This much was confirmed by the minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah during the ministerial press briefing organized by her office to mark 100 days in office of the present administration.While addressing the press on Thursday,September 8,2011 at the National Press Centre, Abuja, the minister acknowledged previous efforts targeted at stabilizing the industry but regrets that most of the facilities at the airports were in bad shape , either dilapidated or obsolete even as her ministry has stepped up effort at turning things around.

‘’while acknowledging previous efforts targeted at stabilizing the aviation industry, it is correct to state that at the inception of this administration, the state of aviation infrastructure, particularly the airport terminals, runway, control towers, cooling systems, conveyor belts etc, most were in terrible condition’’ she admitted.

The minister tried to justify the reason for this unfortunate development when she explained though some cosmetic renovation has been attempted in some airports,it is sad to note that most of the airport terminals were constructed in the 70s and have remained in their old original state without any major attempt at adapting to modern designs and or concepts acceptable to international best practices.

A discerning mind will want to ask whether the aviation industry functioned without supervising ministry or body within the period under reference.The airport terminals may have been built donkey years ago, but the maintenance culture and adaptability to international best practices is certainly lacking. This lacuna is what the current minister must fill within the period she holds sway in the office.

Since the 70s when some of them were constructed and placed under the administration of different bodies, monies have always been appropriated for its running. Minister after minister paints a picture of tardiness of the predecessor prompting the public to wonder whether succeeding ministers were often overwhelmed by the volume of work there or simply,individual priority that leads to little achievement.

An aviation expert, Mr. Titus Agbo underscored the rot in the aviation sector especially in our airports when he told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND ‘’from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, through other airports across the country, the story of decaying infrastructure is the same’’.

He was quick to point out that the lighting system, lavatories, perimeter fencing and other facilities are neglected against the spirit of what an airport should be.He contended that not a finger is raised against the authorities who should make these things work even as the ministry will also not wield the big stick except when the dramatis personae in them have cause to disagree.

Agbo who has seen action in the aviation sector for decades also advised members of the National Assembly to be more businesslike in carrying out their oversight functions as their work should not end in one flying visit. He opined that their visits should be made more regular until they put Chief Executive Officers and ministers on their toes.

While noting that relationship between the lawmakers and the Presiding Officers of government establishment should not be that of teacher-pupil,he frowned at the situation where the chief executives are unruffled even with the visit of the lawmakers as the mandate of their offices suffers owing to the romance that exists between them.

Agbo’s observation can easily pale into oblivion when weighed against the opinion of Hon. Abdullahi Ricco Mohammed,a member of the House of Representatives and a member of the House Committee on Aviation.

Mohammed narrated his experience at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos where they went on oversight functions.He described the state of affairs there as pathetic. ‘’the situation was very pathetic; you can’t imagine that the Managing Director of the airport does not know how much international planes that land in the airport charge.At the domestic wing,the air conditioner was not functioning.We got angry with some of the answers the MD was pretending to provide; we will visit other airports but if MMA is the way we saw it,I’m sure others will be worse.’’ He concludes.

This discovery probably guided the minister, Oduah when she declared very early that she would enhance internally generated revenue and improve transparency within the agencies by automating the revenue collection process just as she promised to change the business model of the industry into a self- sustaining model through increased private sector.

She also said that the ministry under her watch is poised to review every concession arrangement, permits and licenses that have unfavourable terms to government and the Nigerian public.

Reacting to allegations of rip-off in the sector, Mohammed opined that foreign airlines have taken over the sector. ‘’international airlines normally shortchange Nigerians. Arik Air for instance owe Nigerian government billions of Naira; We wonder why because they are flying and making money. Aside Arik, some airlines owe FAAN billions of Naira and if government has collected these monies we should not be talking of deregulation.

Already Nigerians have been wondering why there is no national carrier but the minister has assured that a national carrier will come on board next year. If the minister will deliver on her promises, it follows, that Nigerians will once again bounce into the international arena with its national carrier and hopefully plug the holes that had existed because of absence of a national carrier

In spite of her laudable programmes of action, there is apprehension in the sector that the cost of doing business is high especially among airline operators. For instance, it is said that airlines who were made to land at the international wing and taxi to the domestic for between 10 to 15 minutes before disembarking passengers at the domestic wing for about three years because of asphalt resurfacing, were losing on daily basis about 3 million naira on extra fuel.

Research has shown that the same ugly cycle is repeating itself. A domestic runway at the Lagos airport has been without a single lighting system in the last three years. Again, aircrafts must land on the international runway, taxi to the domestic terminal as from 6.00 pm every day. This is costly and difficult to appreciate.

In the end, Nigerian masses suffer because it has a spiral effect on the people. As the yuletide approaches, it is important that the short term plans be implemented so that the good people, from the great nations will enjoy this giant called Nigeria.

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