The runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport will be shut down for maintenance and all aircraft traffic are expected to use the runway at the international wing.
This was made known yesterday by the general manager, public affairs, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Akin Odukunle who spoke to journalists at the FAAN headquarters at the end of a crucial meeting between the authority�s executive and its workers.
Mr. Odukunle said that the runway will be shut down for over a month for necessary repairs which will include the resurfacing of the runway and lighting, adding that arrangements have been made for aircraft on domestic routes, which will now use the runway at the international wing of the airport, adding that engineering department of the Authority is working on measures to abate any inconveniences this might cause the airlines and air travelers.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Yusufu Mohammad at the meeting with Authority�s workers said that he would rather be removed as managing director of the organisation than allow it run bankrupt.
Reacting to the workers� letter to the Federal Government, where they insist that he must be removed as the Managing Director of the agency for his poor administrative style and other allegations, Mr. Yusufu highlighted the economic programmes embarked upon by his administration towards turning around the fortunes of the Authority.
He therefore solicited the support of workers for the successful implementation of the programmes, while assuring them that the management did not contemplate any rationalization in the Authority.
Speaking to Journalists after the meeting, Mr. Yusufu said he had concluded arrangements to transform FAAN from its non-accountability nature to a profitable entity, adding that he had got approval from the Minister of state for Air Transport, Femi Fani-Kayode to initiate the needed change in the agency.
According to him, the N1.1b monthly revenue of the agency had increased to N2b in less than one year of his assumption of office, adding that the agency could generate more than that if given the enabling environment
The workers had also kicked against the move to cede the installation of advanced technological systems at the nations� airports to Maevis, a private firm, describing it as a fraudulent arrangement.
But Mohammad said only such solutions can deliver FAAN from its crippling nature.
Mohammed said the present manual system operating in FAAN makes it difficult for it to get accountable for all expenditures and revenues adding �there are a lot of people hiding under the manual system, if we get the place computerized, we will have a better system of accountability�.