The controversy over safety concerns at the new domestic terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos (MMA2) which was built and is operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, has been laid to rest as the International Air Trans-port Association (IATA) declared the terminal safe for flights after inspection yesterday.
This is contrary to an earlier report purportedly put together by the body, which indicated that the terminal was unsafe.
The IATA Regional Dire-ctor for Africa, Gaoussou Konate, however told newsmen after inspecting the terminal with a team from the association, alongside officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), representatives of Virgin Nigeria and other airlines that the terminal does not have any safety concerns.
�What we did today was to go specifically to the apron and parking areas – airside. We are not interested in other things. We are looking at safety. So, what we did was to look for evidence and we found clearly that all issues, which were raised, have been addressed. So we really don�t have any concerns about safety at the apron and the parking area where we went and gathered evidence. So, we are happy with what we have seen.�
Konate who addressed the Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren in the presence of newsmen said it was against the association�s rules to disclose their findings to the media, but due to the controversy surrounding the report, journalists were allowed to access the report.
He said: �The inspections involved operators and all stakeholders. We went to the apron and airside and not the building. We looked for evidence and we found clearly that all the issues raised were impressive. All the issues raised have been rectified. We have no concerns about safety. Operations are safe.�
On the basis of an alleged earlier IATA report, one of the nation�s major carriers, Virgin Nigeria, refused to relocate to the terminal when it was directed to do so by the federal government, insisting that MMA2 was not safe for operations.
Demuren said this controversial report was really part of the IATA earlier report. He said that the report was given to IATA earlier by Virgin Nigeria before the IATA team came to Nigeria last November, adding that the leader of the previous IATA team personally went to look at MMA2 and later adopted the report sent to IATA by Virgin Nigeria.
Demuren also said that it was in the bid to put an end to the lingering controversy that IATA decided to come and inspect the facilities. He stressed that traditionally such reports are not made public and wondered why the initial IATA report was being circulated in the media, disclosing that the leader of the team that came to Nigeria in November had resigned.
Demuren said: �That is why they came back to resolve this issue. If they had inspected it, they won�t come back. So they came, and that guy who did it would have been on the contingent, but he has resigned and is leaving IATA. That is why Konate came himself.�
Continuing, the NCAA director general said, �We want to set the records straight and make sure what we are doing is data based and not sentiments based. We were at the airport with Arik, Virgin Nigeria, FAAN (the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), NAMA (the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency), Bi-Courtney, AON (Airline Operators of Nigeria) and you have heard what he said: that all safety concerns have been resolved, MMA2 is safe.�
The NCAA boss also observed that since operations started at the terminal last August, there has been no accident, adding, �I want to assure Nigerians that aviation is safe all over the world and we will make it safe in Nigeria.�
However, in reaction to the new IATA report yesterday, Virgin Nigeria vowed to remain at the international wing of the airport, pending the outcome of its appeal at the court against its eviction from the international terminal of the airport.
In a release made available to newsmen, the airline said: �The matter of the relocation of Virgin Nigeria to MMA2 is already in court and any substantive discussion of it, especially in the press is sub-judice.
Virgin Nigeria has an abiding faith in the rule of law, which we believe will prevail in this matter.�
The airline said the issues to be addressed during the appeal process following the ruling by the Federal High Court are: The validity of the Memorandum of Mutual Undertaking between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited (our technical partners) with special reference to Virgin Nigeria Airways operating its domestic, regional and international flights from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
�We note that since the last audit visit of IATA to MMA2, some progress has been made to remedy the lapses raised. We commend the management of the NCAA for acknowledging these gaps and for ensuring that the appropriate corrective actions have been taken accordingly. The corrective actions taken are in line with those contained in the IATA report, which was confirmed by Lorne Riley, Corporate Communications Manager from IATA�s corporate headquarters in Geneva.�
Bi-Courtney in its response to IATA�s endorsement yesterday also said, �We at Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited welcome the result of the IATA audit conducted at MMA Terminal two earlier today (yesterday). This audit is a vindication of what we had always said, that MMA2 is a safe terminal operating within the highest global standards.�
In a statement signed by the group head, corporate communications, Kadaria Ahmed-Adesida, Bi-Courtney commended IATA for having the courage to return to Nigeria to conduct the audit.
The airport operator thanked the NCAA DG for clarifying that no audit was undertaken by IATA of MMA2 when the association visited last November.
It said �We commend IATA for having the courage to return to Nigeria to conduct this audit. IATA has proved that it has integrity and will not allow its good name be abused for selfish commercial reasons.
�Now that safety concerns raised about MMA2 have been proved to be false, we call on all stakeholders in the industry to work together to provide the flying public good quality services.�
Bi-Courtney, in line with its determination to continue to impact positively on the aviation sector, announced a list of projects that will consolidate MMA2 as the leading terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. They are:
�Six additional boarding bridges with four additional boarding gates;
�A monorail link between the international and local terminals;
�A four star 150 room premium brand hotel linked to the terminal and car park by a Sky Walk; and
�A 1000 sitter conference centre with facilities for smaller meetings and conferences.
The company said it looked forward to welcoming all airlines operating domestic schedules to MMA2, where they are assured of excellent services in a world class environment.
Mar82008