FAAN begins relocation of airlines to New Int. Airport Terminal
Due to the unfortunate fire incident at the old terminal of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos Wednesday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has started relocating airlines, government agencies and other stakeholders to the new terminal.
Though, this has caused a lot of inconveniences to passengers and other airport users, FAAN says, the processing of passengers through the New International Terminal, is effective immediately.
Since the relocation, the new Chinese terminal has been a beehive of activities and a house of commotion both in and out as passengers with their luggage are not finding it easy getting into the terminal in addition to checks and scanning of luggage.
The queues especially during peak periods often extend to the old terminal coupled with the vehicular traffic on the bridge leading into the terminal.
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua says, “The expedited relocation to the New International Terminal at MMIA was deemed necessary due to the unfortunate fire incident that occurred at the International Terminal 1 yesterday”. It would recalled that, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo during his maiden visit to Lagos airport had directed the FAAN to relocate airlines to the New International Terminal for the shutdown of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 1 by 1st October, 2023 with a view to improving passenger experience and for total overhaul of the terminal.
According to FAAN, “We intend to make this movement as seamless as possible but appeal to all travellers to please be at the airport early enough to complete their check-in formalities on time in order not to miss their flight”.
Passengers Ordeal “We arrived on Qatar Air yesterday at 3.25pm or thereabouts. Took 15 minutes for stairs to be positioned. Told to wait for buses. No buses came. We disembarked to Tarmac. Had to climb upstairs. Got my last bag at 5.32pm. Had to go downstairs on steep ramp. Walked to new exit ramp at old terminal. After escaping found road blocked with a rope by an old man who asked for exit fee This after paying for parking. Wetin?”.
“The issues are as straight as the rod …there was a directive by the HMA. Who has the responsibility to carry out the directive? Methinks it is the duty of the MMIA Terminal Manager who is to invite all the parties to a meeting, share thoughts with them on the Ministerial agenda and all parties discuss and agree as to how and when the movement will commence, either wholly or in phases..Aside the fire incident which is sad, by now we should know how to plan and effect our plans and stop the fire brigade approach. We have also noted the inconveniences of big aircraft manoeuvring out of the new Terminal which is impossible at the moment hence the need to remove those hangars…FAAN Terminal management must wake up to its duties as aforesaid and put relevant structures in place to BUS passengers to the aircrafts after clearing for boarding…step by step and one issue sorted out after another. If the deadline cannot be met due to logistics, all that is required is ask for extension as the deadline is not cast in stone. Lastly, the Ministers handlers should kindly tell/advise him to reduce his tweets about our sector..he cannot succeed running aviation on tweets and social media..this is serious business and one would have expected him to visit Lagos and see for himself the extent of damage to our building and show empathy to Nigerians on same”.
