December 19, (THEWILL) – The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has promised that there would be landside and airside improvements across the airports in the coming months.
For the airside, Kuku stated that all the safety initiatives are ongoing, making sure the Authority returns Nigerian major airports to category two.
According to him, in terms of actual landside and terminal equipment, FAAN is working around automation and a lot of other things, making sure they are improving the passenger’s experiences, and upgrading the terminals in the nation’s secondary, as well as main airports.
She gave the promise at an event to mark her one year in office and the December edition of the MD’s quarterly award for excellence at the FAAN headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.
Assessing the MD’s one year in office, stakeholders in the nation’s aviation industry have commended her giant’s strides in just one year in office.
Speaking at an event to mark Mrs Kuku’s one year in office and the December edition of the MD’s quarterly award for excellence at the FAAN headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday, Director Special Duties, FAAN, Mr Henry Agbebire said the occasion was to honour a significant milestone, that is, the attainment of one year of dedicated service by the Mrs Kuku whose visionary leadership has been instrumental in transforming the FAAN into a model of operational excellence.
Agbebire confirmed that under Kuku’s leadership, FAAN has witnessed achievements in safety, security and passenger facilitation.
In his remarks, General Manager of Safety, Mr John Okezie Ekpe, said Kuku’s commitment has helped to ensure that safety is prioritised at all levels of the organisation’s operations.
Ekpe listed the establishment of a safety culture, clear formal safety policy, regulatory compliance, adequate safety training, accountability and engagement in continuous improvement as some of Kuku’s achievements in the areas of safety.
Others who spoke on the achievements of the FAAN MD included, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, Director of AVSEC, Albert Afegbai, AGM Safety OSH, Oguche Samuel Enejo equally commended the MD for the giant efforts made in such a short period.
Speaking at the sideline of the ceremony, Mrs Kuku commended all workers of FAAN, stating that she also owes the indelible experience to God, staff of FAAN, the directors and the management.
“It is not just the work we have done but the spirit we have done it well together. I am grateful for the sacrifices. Thank you for being the force behind the success”
While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving her the opportunity to serve, Kuku also said that the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has equally been supportive, adding that his words and actions have made her work easier.
She said, “I want to thank Mr President and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for the unwavering support that they have given to FAAN. I want to thank our passengers for bearing with us this year. The NDLEA, Customs, NIS, DSS and others have been very engaging”.
“Over the next few months, we should stand to see two things. One is the landside improvements and the other is airside improvements. For the airside, all the safety initiatives are ongoing, making sure we are returning our major airports to category two. In terms of actual landside and terminal equipment, we are working really around automation and a lot of things that we have, making sure we are improving the passengers’ experiences, upgrading our terminal in our secondary as well as our main airports”.
On the expectations for next year, the MD added “As you pass through the airport this festive season, you will see there are lots of improvements. The aviobridges, and conveyor belts will be coming in next year. We are fully committed to providing the same level of service you get internationally”.
The high point of the event marked the presentation of MD’s awards to deserving FAAN staff and also the launch of the Occupational Safety and Health Manual and Aerodrome General Safety Handbook.
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.
