February 19, (THEWILL) – The Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has observed that some of the major challenges facing FAAN are the issues of obsolete equipment and abandoned projects awarded many years ago before the present management came onboard.
Ganduje also included the issue of finance, as the cost of projects awarded many years ago has gone up.
He made the observations when he had an inaugural session with the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, and all the directors, where he was given an overview functions of the agency.
Explaining from his experience of the Lagos Airport facilities, Ganduje said, “And also now we are on a practical side of it. We have seen some facilities, we have seen some equipment, we have seen some appliances, and we have also seen the environment. We have also taken note of the challenges, as explained by the MD.
“So my impression is that the agency is blessed with competent Managing Director and also the directors, because I have seen sign of motivation, sign of seriousness and sign of sign of achievement, motive, as far they are concerned. Of course, there are some challenges, and we have started discussing about the challenges and how things will be resolved. So what it matters is that all of us, we are conversant with International Airport, especially in the developed countries. So whatever we saw there is a product of human beings. Is a product of facilities improvement and development, they are product of motivation or visionary management of the organisation. That is what we are expecting here. But they have laid a very good foundation, and I have been appealing to them so that we can continue and improve what they have done so far.”
Ganduje equally advised against institutional rivalry, appealing to the agency to collaborate with sister agencies in order to achieve the overall objective of Mr President.
“My request here is for collaboration. I hope there is no institutional rivalry.”
Also explaining some of the latest upgrades done at the Lagos Airport, Mrs Kuku promised that FAAN is replacing their security equipment, which started few years ago.
According to Kuku, the Authority has introduced a number of explosive detection devices, which would help make sure that the environment is safe and secure.
Explaining further, she said, “So that is a project that is happening across the nation. I also mentioned the fact that a lot of the terminal rehabilitation work that we have started to do, some of those are now coming on board and on stream. So look out for more in the next coming months, and then the next quarter, really around large infrastructure development projects that we’re looking at as well something exciting coming on board with both in Lagos and Abuja airports.
“I am sure that you have seen a lot of the renovation works that we are doing for our facilities, especially those for passengers with disabilities, and of course, passengers generally. We are also revamping the VIP facilities.”
On her policy directive for 2025, the FAAN boss added, “For this year 2025, we started last year with safety and security on the runway in the air side. We have now started to implement, so we have an enhanced safety policy that we recently rolled out last year in line and in close collaboration with the NCAA.
“We also mentioned a couple of runway renovation projects or rehabilitation projects. Those are also coming on stream, as well as terminal rehabilitation as well. I am sure the feedback from all of our passengers is starting to look promising, but we do agree that we are not where we need to be yet. But of course, we are starting to see a lot of those changes.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
