Also, 11 months after shutting down runway 18R/36L, she
disclosed that it would soon open the facility to airlines for use.
The runway 18R/36L was shutdown in March, 2023 for eight
weeks repair but the repair has been on for 11 months with no specific fate of
re-opening.
These were disclosed by the managing director, FAAN,
Olubunmi Kuku, during her maiden interactive session with the Airline Operators
Committee (AOC) and heads of security agencies under the auspices of the
Airport Security Committee, on Monday.
The FAAN MD, in a press statement by the director Public
Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, decried proliferation of
protocol services by the personnel of various agencies.
She said it should be stopped immediately as it contravene
the Executive Order 001 of 2017 of the federal government and undermines
protocol activities of FAAN Protocol Unit and that of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA).
According to Kuku, the MFA has the sole responsibility of
attending to designated government officials and urged agencies to liaise with
them when they need to facilitate their principals/officials, while the
Passenger Support Service (PSS) of FAAN
handles corporate organisations as these services are being paid for.
On the reopening of the Lagos runway, Kuku assured the
operators that Runway 18R, Link 3 and E Wing would be reopened in a few weeks.
Also, the FAAN boss, called on airlines and security
agencies at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos to prioritise passenger
facilitation.
She asked them to see the airports as an integral part of
their duties, saying passengers must have good travelling experience.
Kuku also addressed the various concerns of the airports,
especially the state of infrastructure, which she said may not change
overnight, but in the interim, some stop gap measures are being put in place to
create some comfort while the major issues are addressed gradually.
As regards security screening process, the MD advised that
security agencies should be consolidated to ensure that passengers undergo one
seamless screening process.
The fact that presently passengers have to undergo multiple
screening layers, she added, leaves them with bad travel experiences.
The Airline Operators also shared their pain points with the
MD/CE. They mentioned issues with the baggage belts and the entire Baggage
Handling System (BHS), the re-opening of the E Wing, payment for Avio Bridges
that are not working properly, general ambience of the airports and so on.
Some of the operators thanked the FAAN MD/CE for her
considerate approach in getting them involved in her plans for the Airport.
In her response, Mrs. Kuku emphasised her belief in the
system of honesty and accountability and apologised for all the inconveniences
that have been endured by the airlines.
She assured the operators that Runway 18R, Link 3 and E Wing
would be reopened in a few weeks. She
added that replacement of BHS is underway.
On the issue of Service Legal Agreement (SLA) and contracts
not revisited, the MD/CE promised to investigate and make appropriate
consultations.
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