Nigeria: The chaos in our airports

The competitiveness of any economic base is inextricably linked to the quality and quantity of the infrastructure available to it. There exists an inseparable link between the state of the nation’s infrastructure and the height attained in its pursuit of economic emancipation. Hence, no modern economic growth model designed for implementation would be worth its salt if basic and necessary infrastructure are not put in place.

It is in the light of this that one finds the article, “The chaos in our airports”, written by Uche Igwe which appeared on page 20 of your widely read publication on December 26, 2012 rather intriguing. The author sees the inconvenience experienced by passengers at our airports as a result of government’s concerted effort to modernize the nation’s airports as a sign that “this is either a country that is dysfunctional or a government that is clueless”. The obvious motive for this unkind cut is not the subject of this discourse, but rather the desire to address the facts of the matter.

It is common knowledge that most Nigerian airports and terminals were built in the 70’s and by 2011, they were decayed and in a state of utter disrepair. Airport users attest to the fact that our infrastructure was a disgrace and embarrassment to our national pride and standing in the comity of nations. It sent the wrong signals and scared investors away.

It has been estimated that the country will need to invest about $100bn over the next 10 years in just four basic infrastructure areas: power, rail track, road, and aviation. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, N300bn will be required to bring the aviation sector, in particular, to a satisfactory condition.

On resumption of office, however, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has left no one in doubt that she will “walk her talk”. Ostensibly worried by the scale of infrastructure deficit at the nation’s airports, she initiated the reconstruction of 22 airports across the country. Within two months of being in office, 11 airports earmarked in the first phase were undergoing reconstruction simultaneously in an unprecedented scale!

This is without interrupting operations at these airports. The Lagos Terminal 1, popularly known as GAT, was opened within 300 days from the commencement of work and at a cost of N648m naira only. Not far from this edifice lies a similar terminal said to be built by a concessionaire at a whopping cost of N38bn. The remaining 10 airports are at different stages of completion and the world class facilities at Abuja, Kano, Benin and Owerri are already being enjoyed by air travelers.

Agencies in the Ministry of Aviation are being transformed and appropriate laws initiated to make them more accountable. Questionable concession agreements skewed against the interest of the sector and the Nigerian public were being vigorously reviewed to send the right signals; it’s no longer business as usual for crooked minds.

In the area of safety and security, modern security equipment has been procured following a comprehensive security threat and vulnerability assessment.

Deliberate strategies are being deployed to change the orientation of the aviation employees through capacity development. For instance, the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi, a world class aviation professional, has embarked on a campaign to change the orientation of all employees of FAAN towards service delivery, accountability, and self-sustenance of the agency.

The Minister of Aviation has pursued deliberate strategies to grow the domestic airlines. She successfully championed a campaign for the removal of taxes and tariffs on commercial airline spare parts which was a major cost component in the overall cost of domestic airlines operations. Arrangements have also been concluded to facilitate the acquisition of 30 airplanes to boost the operations of domestic airlines.

Some airports have been designated as agro-allied and cargo terminals to promote investment and make them self-sustaining. This will lead to reduction in rural-urban immigration, massive rural development, provision of employment and reduction in crime rate. The Port Harcourt International airport for instance has been designated as a Free Trade Zone and Export Processing Zone to maximize its strategic location, with special incentives to stimulate economy development and foreign direct investments.

At the twilight of 2012, the aviation sector received a Christmas bouquet with the restoration of airfield lighting on Runway 18L at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on December 25, 2012. With the commencement of night landing on the domestic runway, pressure will be eased on Runway 18R, the international runway that accommodated all domestic flights operating into Lagos after 6pm.

Again, the expanded “E” Arrival Wing of the international terminal of the MMA commenced operations on Christmas Eve to handle the unprecedented passenger flow that reached its zenith that fateful day.

The year 2013 will witness the construction of brand new airport terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, and the commencement of the Aerotropolis project; a concept that involves building cities around airports, and thus connecting businesses, suppliers, executives and goods to the aviation global world.

This may seem far-fetched for the fainthearted, but critics of the aviation minister have learnt to take her by her words. So, what Igwe called “chaos in our airports” are, ironically, evidence of determined efforts to remodel and rehabilitate the airports after many years of neglect.

- Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN

Source:    http://www.punchng.com