What is delaying Abuja, Lagos new terminals?

Airlines, passengers and airport users anticipated the final completion of new terminals at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at the beginning of 2018.

While the Abuja terminal was scheduled for completion by January 2018, the Lagos terminal ought to have been completed as at December 2017.

But as it stands, these new terminals may not be completed soon as a result of some defects identified on them by the contractors. Whereas the Abuja terminal is said to be built in a wrong location, obstructing the control and fire towers and so would require relocation, the Lagos terminal is said to have insufficient apron to accommodate the anticipated fleet size and would, therefore, require expansion.

These defects, it is projected, would cost the government additional N5 billion to fix.

Some engineers have called on the government to scrutinise the contractors’ claims, while some stakeholders say the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which approved that the terminals be constructed in the first place, have questions to answer.

John Ojikutu, chief executive, Centurion Securities and member of aviation industry think tank, Aviation Round Table (ART), says that in compliance with the National Civil Aviation Regulations 2012, vol. II, part 17.24.1, “aerodrome operator shall, prior to the implementation of any renovation and expansion work on its aerodrome or the construction of additional aerodrome facilities at the same location, submit to the NCAA a revision of its measures designed to safeguard against acts of unlawful interference which may arise”.

“Was this done by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) or by NCAA? If these agencies had carefully conducted their survey, these identified defects would not have surfaced,” Ojikutu said.

Some industry insiders, however, say this is not the time to trade blames. Rather, they say all concerned authorities should work together to resolve all the issues and ensure quick completion of the new terminals. Lagos and Abuja are Nigeria’s two most important airports, with Lagos alone accounting for 65 percent of 15 million passengers processed by the country’s 26 airports annually.

IFEOMA OKEKE

The writer can be reached via ifeco24@gmail.com or +2347030791726