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Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma, cutting the tape, others, from left, Director of Finance and Account, (FAA) Mrs. Nike Aboderin, Chairman, League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, (LAAC) Mr. Olusegun Koiki and Director of Commercial and Business Development, (FAAN) Mr. Sadiku Rafindadi at the commissioning of LAAC press cetre, Murtatal Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos
…reveals plans to improve safety, security at airports
By Sade Williams
The new terminals being built at Lagos and Abuja international airports would ready by middle of this year, managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma stated this on Tuesday while answering questions from Aviation journalists at their Gateway Forum at Lagos airport.
The FAAN boss, who also commissioned the ‘Saleh Dunoma Press Centre, revealed plans by the Authority to up the ante in security and safety, saying the Authority would soon install the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) fully at all access gates and strategic areas percent at both Lagos and Abuja airports in a bid to improve security.
According to him, the dates for the completion of the new international terminals keep changing due to the issues raised by the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company.
“We have to change the completion dates because of the issues raised by the contractors, the value of dollar was also part of it, the exchange rate rose from about N120 to over N300, but Port Harcourt airport is about 80 percent completed and by the middle of this year, Lagos and Abuja airports will be ready”, he said.
It will be recalled that the new terminal is one of the four terminals for construction in the N153 billion ($500 million) loan deal between the Federal Government and CCECC in July 2014.
On improvement of safety and security, Dunoma who revealed that a contract is currently on to ensure the full coverage of the two main gateways by CCTV, added that a device, a mobile surveillance system is part of what is to be installed to ensure a water-tight security.
He also spoke of plans to have all airports fenced and fix the broken walls that give access to unauthorised persons, apart from plan to procure the latest body scanner which is still being tested by technologists.
On indebtedness by airlines and concessionaires, Dunoma said that they cannot send any company out of business but a two-week window has been given to them to pay current charges, adding that many of them have also come up to show their payment plans for reconciliation.
On revenue generation from non-aeronautical services, Dunoma revealed that the Authority prefers to concentrate attention on providing aeronautical facilities and services first before exploring non-aeronautical.
He however added that Nigeria was working towards realising the non-aeronautical services fully saying that some countries even depend more on revenues accruing fron it that aeronautical services.
