Tankers Must Vacate Airport Roads—FAAN MD Kuku Declares

BY ANTHONY OMOH

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has ordered the immediate removal of tankers parked indiscriminately around airport corridors, calling their presence a security threat and visual blight to Nigeria’s gateway terminals.

The directive, issued during DCBD stakeholder engagement Forum in Lagos themed: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Growth and Development.

This renewed directive marks the latest move by FAAN to enforce discipline around airport environments and restore proper operational order. Kuku expressed deep concern over the proliferation of tankers and limousines—particularly around Lagos Airport Road—describing the situation as both unsafe and embarrassing.

 “I see all of the tankers and all of those limousines,” she said pointedly. “We’re going to be taking very graphic actions.”

According to her, most of the tankers do not belong to registered airport operators and have no business operating within the airport vicinity. She stated unequivocally that FAAN would no longer tolerate this unregulated activity and vowed not to yield to blackmail or pressure.

 “A lot of those tankers do not belong to those who operate in our environment. We have tank farms… they just have to go,” Kuku said. “There is a security risk outside of that, and I believe the scene is obnoxious for an airport environment.”

The FAAN boss said the agency had given operators multiple warnings and sufficient notice—some dating as far back as six months—before now moving to enforce evacuations.

“We’ve sent letters in the past three months. We also sent a notice about six months ago,” she revealed. “We do have port orders that allow us to evacuate them from there.”

She added that FAAN had already contacted the relevant security agencies and the associations representing the operators to ensure that the evacuation is carried out in a coordinated, lawful manner.

In collaboration with the Lagos State Government, Kuku noted that trailer parks had been designated in strategic parts of the state, and tanker operators are expected to relocate immediately.

 “They just have to use those trailer parks. This environment cannot continue like this,” she insisted.

Addressing the issue of fuel logistics, Kuku revealed that FAAN is working to reactivate pipeline hydrant systems—such as JUHI-1 and JUHI-2—to reduce the dependency on tankers entirely. This she said can reduce security threat and visual blight around the airports.

“It’s safer, it’s cleaner to use the hydrant as opposed to the tanker. We’re working towards that,” she said. “There was a challenge at the international terminal, but we’re now in touch with those responsible to make it happen.”

Kuku didn’t stop at tankers. She also warned informal operators along the airport corridor, particularly on Lagos Airport Road, to vacate or face similar enforcement action. She admitted that some of the disorderly setups were once approved by FAAN but added that the current leadership was taking corrective steps.

“What I realize is that we have actually given the approvals for some of those operators on the side. We’re going to be taking drastic measures,” she affirmed.

She called for “sidebar conversations” with any business operator along the airport road that believes they should remain, but stressed that order must return to the surroundings of the airport terminals.

“If you know that you’re operating along the airport road, we need to be having sidebar conversations,” she stated. “But we really cannot have businesses literally on the side of the road in a manner that is very unorganized.”

FAAN is currently conducting a full re-registration of all full-time operators to distinguish those with legitimate business operations from illegal entrants.

 “We’re registering and re-registering the full-time operators around, so we know those that are serving time,” Kuku noted.

Also under scrutiny are the car hire services and Bureau de Change (BDC) operators, many of whom operate outside official airport structures. Kuku acknowledged that the system hasn’t worked well for these groups but maintained that solutions were underway.

 “For the BDC operators and the car hire operators, if you’re here, we want to understand your pain and your concern and what’s keeping you outside,” she said.

To bring structure to car hire services, FAAN is introducing a queue system and exploring tech-based coordination. Kuku said the new model would ensure that operators are served in order, removing the disorder caused by aggressive customer grabbing.

 “We’re putting in queue systems for the car hire operators so you start with your turn and then get picked up,” she explained. “I know there were issues with one of the applications used in Abuja, but we have another one being rolled out.”

She cautioned all operators that any failure to comply with these new procedures will result in license revocation.

 “If you’re not complying, you lose your license to operate within the terminal,” Kuku warned.

The FAAN MD emphasized that the engagement session was not just for issuing directives but for collaboration and implementation, adding that automation and digital management would become the norm at Nigerian airports.

 “We’ve used today’s concessionaire day as a way to raise awareness and sensitization,” she said. “That way, we map out the plan for implementation when we start the rollout. That’s how we expect to stop the chaos.”

With a clear tone of finality, Kuku reiterated that FAAN will no longer look away while national gateways are reduced to chaotic truck stops and unregulated business zones.-