Aviation
FAAN to remove touting at Murtala Muhammed Airport
Joseph Oyebola
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has set up a 34-member task force to sanitise their operations to curb illegal activities and touting at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Ikeja.
There are 17 organisations at the Hajj and Cargo terminal. Some of them are NAHCO, SAHCOL, DHL, Police, Customs, Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Customs agents.
Others are Allied Air Cargo, Emirates, Air France/KLM, British Airways, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Port Health, Ethiopian Airlines and National Agency for Food Drug and Control (NAFDAC) among others.
Each organisation is expected to submit names of two members of staff as members of the committee.
Activities at the terminal has been restricted to 12 hours (7am-7pm) from the initial 24-hour period.
FAAN said the exit and entrance gates at the terminal would henceforth be opened for commercial activities from 7am while the gates are to be locked at 7pm.
FAAN, however, said the new regime would not affect the operational activities, but commercial activities within the terminal.
Commenting on the new initiative, Terminal Manager, Hajj and Cargo, Mr. Asizehi Musa, said the essence of the taskforce was not to threaten any agency or operator, but to ensure sanity at the terminal, reduce touts and touting activities and make the nation’s airports in compliant with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
He said with the new approach, no truck would henceforth be allowed to spend the night at the terminal, adding that the management had over the years frowned at such practices.
To make the new initiative a success, Musa said FAAN would provide a patrol vehicle, which would monitor activities at the terminal and ensure that only those who have business within the terminal are allowed.
Musa assured that FAAN would cooperate with all stakeholders, especially cargo agents, Nigeria Customs Service, ground handling companies, the Nigerian Police and other stakeholders within the terminal.
He said: “For many years, the issue of access control has been on the front burner and it seems the FAAN is incapacitated, which is not true. But, we can’t allow things to continue like this. Access control is very important and necessary to the safety of all users. The era of 24-hour operation would be a thing of the past.
“As from this moment, activities are now reduced to 12 hours and I seek the cooperation of all. However, there will be sensitisation exercise before the taskforce commences work in full. But, the restriction exercise does not affect operation areas. It’s only for commercial purpose.”
Ekiti Government has said the ongoing construction of the Cargo Airport at Ipogun in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area would completed in 18 months.
Mr Bunmi Awotiku, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Airport Project, said this when Ekiti House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transport visited the site on Friday at Ipogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project started in October 2019.
The Chairman of the House Committee, Chief Olugboyega Aribisogan, said that the airport was a timeless legacy, which would enhance the rapid transformation and development of the state.
Aribisogan, accompanied by other committee members, said they were at the site to examine the level of work done on the project.
The chairman assured that the Assembly would give necessary legislative support to the state Executive to enable it deliver the dividend of democracy to the people of the state
