Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Sunday disclosed that work will soon commence on the construction of a second runway at the Aminu Kano International airport in Kano following the approval of the contract by the federal government.
Alhaji Ganduje expressed concerns over the activities of the country’s various security agencies at Nigeria’s entry airports and demanded better coordination just as he declared that the government will no longer condone corrupt activities around the airports.
The former Kano state Governor, who toured some parts of the Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos commended the management of FAAN for the improvement in infrastructure and facility at the airports just as he commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the environment that has seen tremendous development in the Nigeria aviation industry.
The FAAN board Chairman also outlined challenges facing the aviation sector to include abandoned projects which he said will be addressed professionally in collaboration with relevant bodies.
Alhaji Ganduje said “We have to thank Mr. President. Within two years he has been able to improve our airports, especially international airports in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. We have visited Kano. We saw the massive improvement of the airport, massive work that is going on. Even a second runway will soon be started. And today we are here in Lagos. We have seen a lot of improvement. We have seen new scanners all over. We have seen new e-gates making the international airport real international. Comparable to many developed international airports.”
“Also, we have to thank him for creating an enabling environment for private airlines to thrive. The degree of mortality of private airlines was very high in Nigeria. If we start mentioning those now in the graveyard, I’m sure it will take a lot of our time. But by creating an enabling environment, the private airlines now can be profitable in Nigeria.”
Speaking on how to build a good image for the country by relevant security bodies manning the airports, the board Chairman affirmed that there must be better coordination among the Customs, NDLEA, the military, DSS Civil Defense and police in discharging their duties, adding that “we expect them to develop high standards so that our country will be proud of them.”
“They must have good coordination and build a good attitude for providing services, which I think is very, very important. The issue of corruption, we should have zero tolerance to corruption so that passengers can get things done easily so that our international passengers will not have a bad image about the country.”
Whilst he affirmed that President Bola Tinubu is desirous of completing the Abuja airport second runway, Alhaji Ganduje explained that the federal government will ensure even development of infrastructure at airports at the various regions of Nigeria.
He further said the government desires to develop infrastructure that will aid interconnectivity across Africa adding that “We are trying to see how we can mobilize other African countries so that we can have easy transportation, direct connectivity.
That will reduce the cost of air tickets. That will reduce the bureaucracy in getting visas. That will reduce the time. And that will increase the business quota in Africa.”