Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
MANAGING Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) Capt. Rabiu Yadudu has told the visiting Senate and House of Representatives’ joint Committee on Aviation that the Chinese funded terminal being built in Lagos is 98% done and should be operational before end of March 2022.
This is just as the FAAN boss also requested the Committee to assist and collaborate with it in finding lasting solutions to some of the legacy debt challenges it grapples with stressing that this has not helped it add development.
According to Captain Yadudu, some of the challenges militating against the realization of FAAN’s goals include, accumulated debts over the years, rising operating and maintenance cost, infrastructural gap.
Others include capacity and contribution of airports to revenue generation, human capacity development, economic challenges affecting revenue generation, amongst others.
He said,” On outstanding debt, we have a lot of outstanding debt across Nigeria and outside Nigeria as we face some challenges on debt recovery most especially on debts owed by Arik Air which constitutes a significant portion of the debt portfolio.
” We commend your intervention on our debt recovery drive , however we need further assistance
Capt. Yadudu expressed FAAN’s appreciation to the Committees, noting that the organization has enjoyed the highest level of support, collaboration and co-operation from the Committees in her bid to realize her vision of being among the best airport groups in the world.
On its revenue, the FAAN MD said,” FAAN has shifted a lot of focus towards the non- aeronautical revenue as we have the need to improve our revenue performance. There is focus in areas where investors are coming and this includes advertisement, car parks, private airport terminals and the Bi-Courtney concession.
“On advertisement the authority is taking steps to terminate non performing concessions on adverts and engage new concessionaires, carpark automation at various airports is ongoing and before the end of the year we will achieve almost 80% on private terminals steep sanctions are being applied for non payment of various services.”
The FAAN boss however lauded the Committees for their efforts at repealing the existing Aviation agencies Acts, and enacting new ones.
He further highlighted some of the achievements of FAAN in the recent time to include; design, building and maintenance of interior spaces and assets at MMA, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt terminals, construction of airline office block at Port Harcourt, rehabilitation of fire and rescue building at Port Harcourt, construction of Aviation medical clinic at Enugu international airport, replacement of terminal building ceiling at Enugu international airport.
Others include construction and furnishing of lounge at new international terminal, Abuja Airport, renovation of Aviation medical clinic at MMA, Lagos, provision of Covid-19 canopies and other support structures across all the nation’s airports being managed by FAAN, continuous training and capacity building for staff, amongst several others.
In his response, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi commended FAAN for all the agency has been able to achieved despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.
He added that FAAN should work more in the area of improving on airport security using technology, and also ensure that her human resources are well motivated.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji on his part, advised that the new international terminal in Lagos should be reopen as soon as possible, since it is the most patronized gateway in the nation.
Stating that the Committee is also interested in the welfare and well being of workers, he noted that aviation is key to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, and as such they will assist in whatever capacity possible to ensure that the industry is both robust and effective.
The joint Committees subsequently went on inspection of projects.
