The National Assembly has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to work more in the area of improving airport security using the latest modern technology at the country’s airports.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, made this known during an oversight visit to FAAN facilities in Lagos on Saturday by the National Assembly joint committees on Aviation.
The chairman said the deployment of the security equipment was based on the dynamic challenges at the various airports, as well as their respective threat assessments.
He also commended FAAN for all it has achieved despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, advised that the new international terminal in Lagos should be reopened as soon as possible, since it is the most patronized gateway in the nation.
Nnaji noted that aviation is key to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, and as such they would assist in whatever capacity possible to ensure that the industry is both robust and effective.
Receiving the committee members, the Managing Director, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, said it had enjoyed the highest level of support, collaboration and co-operation from the committee.
Yadudu said the support is in its bid to realize her vision of being among the best airport groups in the world.
He said: “In particular, I appreciate the committees for their efforts at repealing the existing Aviation agencies Acts, and enacting new ones.
“Some of the achievements by FAAN in recent time include design, building and maintenance of interior spaces and assets at Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt terminals, construction of airline office block at Port Harcourt.
“Others are the rehabilitation of fire and rescue building in Port Harcourt, construction of Aviation medical clinic at Enugu international airport, replacement of terminal building ceiling at Enugu international airport, the construction and furnishing of lounge at new international terminal, Abuja Airport, and renovation of Aviation medical clinic in Lagos.
“FAAN also provided COVID-19 canopies and other support structures across all the airports being managed by FAAN, continuous training and capacity building for staff, amongst several others”.
He added that the construction of the Lagos new terminal has reached 98 per cent completion, and the terminal will be commissioned before the end of March, 2022.
Yadudu enumerated some of the challenges militating against the realization of the authority’s goals to include capacity and contribution of airports to revenue generation and human capacity development.
According to him, others are the infrastructural gap, economic challenges affecting revenue generation, accumulated debts, rising operating and maintenance costs, amongst others.
He requested the committees to assist and collaborate with the authority in finding lasting solutions to these challenges.
