Nigeria is cleaning up its’ image in the eyes of millions of air passengers who pass through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, terminal building yearly, as the Federal Government has begun expanding and renovating the 32 year old structure which is in a state of disrepair.
The MMIA terminal building has been notorious over the years, for the discomfort and agitation caused travellers by the poor state of its facilities. The problems which have plagued the terminal building over the years, include the airconditioning system which has often been dysfunctional for long spells, causing the crowded departure and arrival halls to be hot, stuffy and smelly and most uncomfortable.
The conveyor belts at the facility also have often stalled, and when they are functioning, they been described by air travellers as rather slow. Furthermore, many of the toilets in the facility were reportedly old and often also dysfunctional. The toilets have been recently replaced. Then also, the terminal building is recorded now and again, to suffer blackouts, heralding passengers comfort.
Commissioned on March 15, 1979 and modelled after Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, it is the main base for Nigeria’s flag carriers operating international and regional flights, and base for international airlines operating into the country.
A visit to the MMIA terminal now, shows some expansion work going on at the arrival and departure halls that had hitherto been choking to travellers, with its non-functional facilities.
Only a handfull of international airlines were operating into the country when the airport was commissioned in 1979. But 32 years later, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after which it was fashioned, has undergone a series of changes, with the terminal building completely remodeled, while Nigeria’s MMIA terminal building remains as it was from the beginning. Meanwhile, today, over 20 international airlines operate into MMIA, with almost all operating daily flights.
Experts say for an airport that has not undergone any expansion since inception and yet continues to witness increased traffic yearly, government can only do little to ameliorate the increasing hardships travellers are subjected to, until a new terminal is built.
For instance in 2009, 5.6 million travellers passed through the airport, while in 2010, the facility played host to 6.2million passengers. Experts say the traffic it is expected to increase by over 20 percent next year, going by the number of airlines being granted rights to operate into the country.
Only last month, United Airlines and RwandAir, began operations into the country from the United States and Kigali, joining others in the choking terminal.
“The expansion work is long overdue, considering the increase in traffic and other operational activities, coupled with ageing facilities.”
Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation analyst said.
Muhammed Tukur, the public relations officer of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, told BusinessDay that a new terminal is the answer to the congestion problem at the Lagos airport, adding that the expansion would only offer a temporary solution.
“There is need to build another terminal, probably to the left side of the airport, it is a shame that it is only this government that has thought of expanding the terminal after over 30 years”, he said.
Close to 10 European carriers use the terminal, and each airline operates aircraft carrying at least 200 passengers, with almost all of them arriving at the same time into the terminal.
It was gathered that the expansion work is part of the remodelling and renovation planned for 11 airports across the country. Akin Olukunle, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN’s) general manager, public affairs, confirmed to BusinessDay,that the pillers being erected beside the Diplomatic Car Park are for the expansion of the terminal building. He however declined to give techical details on the expansion work.
Chris Aligbe, former head, public affairs, Nigeria Airways, had lamented at a press conference that the public is yet to know the extent which the expansion and remodelling work will go, adding: “We need to do a critique of what is being remodelled, the plans and details of the upgrade should be made public for debate. Are they doing it to cope with increasing capacity? Unfortunately, this is the only sector that lacks specific reform policy.
“It is not possible for FAAN to financially manage 22 airports, therefore, all airports, beginning with Lagos Airport, should be concessioned to bring them to global standard.Government should call in the private sector, like Gatwick and Heathrow airports were developed by a Nigerian and a Spaniard.
“It is obvious that government can no longer handle the decay. It will get money when the airports are functioning well, like the Petroleum Industry Bill is being debated now, government should immediately put in place a major framework for private sector investment in the sector”, he said.