By Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor
Reacting to our piece above, some readers agree that it’s time for our government to tackle seriously,   the issue of upgrading  the facilities our international airports in the country,  in order to attract good business.  FAAN, especially, had quite some bashing for the structures and facilities that it provides at our airports.

‘Helen, a happy new year to you and your family. Your recent article on the image of our airports caught my attention.  The problem is that those in charge of the country at any given time, don’t understand the need for our airports, which are the major entry points for the international community, be made as safe and  attractive as possible.

We’re a developing country, but that doesn’t excuse the shabby state of our international airports.Nigeria has the money to upgrade these airports to a good international standard, but for reasons best known to them, successive governments have failed to do this.

The thing is, good airports attract good business opportunities to the country.  No investors would want to come invest in a country where it would take about two hours to go through Immigration in a stifling atmosphere, and where it takes forever for your luggage to be retrieved.  Added to that, you’re harassed by thieves/beggars right from within the airport buildings.

Despite the rigorous procedure at the Immigration at Heathrow airport, there’s enough staff at hand to ensure that the queues move quickly and you’re out of the hall.   By the time you get to the baggage collection area, your luggage has been delivered.  We can borrow a leaf from there.  Thanks. –  Abosede,  Lagos.’

‘Madam, the state of the international airport in Lagos is depressing.  Let’s not mince words; the place is filthy, hot and stifling.  There’s been an increase in the number of airlines that use this airport, and this has led to an increase in passengers and luggage in the checking-in hall.

The hall as it is at present is far too small to handle this effectively, and it is overcrowded and claustrophobic at any given time.  One sweats profusely because the air-conditioning unit never works properly. In fairness, the various airlines try to get the queues moving with well-manned check-in points, and going through immigration on the way out is a lot more orderly now.

But, the toilets are still filthy with no water most of the time, and the attendants hanging on to toilet paper, rationing it out on demand! There are dirty water jugs all over the place, as if it’s a primary school toilet.  I hope the madam in charge of Aviation will call the contractors handling airport cleaning to order, so that using the conveniences at our airports is not an added stress to travellers – Jack.’

‘Madam, with regards to your article ‘Our  Airports & Nigeria’s image’, our rulers and other Nigerians in positions of trust have no shame that they don’t replicate in our country the good health facilities, airports, schools, efficient transport system, clean environment and constant supply of electricity and water which they appreciate and enjoy in the countries they go to on official assignment or for vacation, despite the huge sums of money they collect for these visits.

That is the bane of our under-development and backwardness, and the suffering of the masses in the midst of plenty!  –  Ifeka Okonkwo.’

‘Mrs Helen, in my opinion, I think the current Minister of Aviation has begun to effect improvement in our airports.  The few I’ve been using since she came on board, are much cleaner and more orderly than before.  I’m not saying that there isn’t room for more improvement; there’s a lot that still need to be done to make our airports look good. and give satisfaction.

The cooling unit, the toilets, the security within and around the airports need to be seen to.  Why are air travellers always besieged  by hangers-on for money?  Is it assumed that everyone who travels by air is rich and has the money to throw around?

I feel embarrassed whenever I notice this, particularly when they approach expatriates. FAAN should rid  our airports of such people.  They give us a bad image.  –  Rapture, Enugu.’

‘Aunty Helen, good day, ma.  With regards to ‘Our Airports & Nigeria’s Image, with what I’ve seen so far at the Malam Aminu Kano International airport, Kano, and the Kaduna airport recently, I think the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, is trying her utmost best to rehabilitate Nigeria’s airports.  She should keep up the tempo. –  From Celestine, mnse.’

‘Ma, if the current minister in charge of Aviation continues in the enthusiasm and zest with which she embraced her duties when she assumed office, I think we may see some noticeable improvement at the end of her tenure.

The British Airports Authority (BAA) wanted to marginalize us as usual and cheat a Nigerian airline on how many flights it can operate over there, but this minister talked tough and they back-tracked.  I was impressed.  Let’s just hope she would bring that same zest to the facilities in our airports in such a way that they would compare with the standards which obtain in the western world.  Thanks. – Martins Osayi, Ikeja,  Lagos.’

‘Dear Aunty, with reference to your article of Sunday Vanguard January 8, 2012,  on Friday October 28, 2011, an accident occurred at the escalator you mentioned; that is, the one leading down to the Immigration hall at the international airport in Lagos.

A lady passenger who had just arrived, fell down, got seriously injured, and could not stand up.  It took the airport authority over 45 minutes to get a stretcher to take her away.  It was a British Airways flight from London. –  O.G. Adeyemi.’

‘If my memory serves me right, that airport in Lagos is over 30 years old.  Shouldn’t the authorities have had the sense of responsibility to expand and upgrade the facilities there, granted that this airport now handles more than five times the traffic it handled at inception?

When they pass through that airport, can’t our rulers see the state it is in?  In spite of Abuja being the capital of the country, Lagos is still the most important point of entry by air.  Should the airport there be left to rot and its state disgrace the nation?  Let’s hope that Princess Oduah would consider this airport for drastic improvement in all aspects of it.  Thank you, madam. –  Ekeh,  Lagos.’

We thank all those who wrote in.