By JUDITH UFFORD

Insecurity, inadequate infrastucture, irregular power supply have been a recurring decimal at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. Only recently, a gang of robbers made the car park where the local bureau de change transact their illegal trade their port of call, endangering the lives of all airport users that fateful day.

One does not need deep reflection to know how as a nation we arrived at this sorry path. The answer is obvious: absence of a consistent and well-articulated national policy, excessive bureaucracy and bad management had been the story of the nation’s aviation industry. For if the truth must be told, our domestic and international airports cannot meet even the minimum in aviation standards.

But all that is beginning to change, thanks to the aviation Road-map of the present administration and determined effort of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. As one took a long walk round the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja recently, one can indeed beat the chest that change is about to come to this over 30-year national edifice- a change that has been long over due.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN’s, appeal to air travellers to bear with it for the inconvenience caused as a result of its remodeling efforts was quite visible as one approaches the terminal. Indeed, the entire airport area is one huge work in progress. How long will travellers continue to be inconvenienced? this reporter queried. Not for much longer was the quick response from the construction engineer.”

Travel processes

About a month and we would wrap up this ‘show’ and the new conveyor belts would be up and running at both the ‘D and E’ – (D for Delta,E for Echo) wings of the airport”, he informed with a quick smile. Several travellers milled about the departure hall, going through the various travel processes.

*New conveyor belt waiting to roll

Yes, the look on those faces suggest they were having a trying time, what with the noise from the construction work. From all indications, they were putting up with the inconveniences handsomely. For some, the look was that of  of optimism,that these inconveniences wouldn’t be for much long and that there would be something to show for it all while others just couldn’t be bothered.

This was the feeling of Mr. Justin Duru, a Dubai- based business man who is one of such optismistic travellers. According to him, with the completion of the remodelling efforts,  the International Airport, Ikeja, could surpass the minimum international standard prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, for such terminals.

Said he: “It would be a total waste of the nation’s resources if something meaningful does not come out of this entire project. Travellers have been inconvenienced for some time now and we’ve taken it in our stride because we believe this exercise is good for our aviation industry. But air travellers would want to see this whole thing wrapped up  quickly”.

Expression of displeasure

Mrs. Nzogi Chukwuemeka was not quite pleased with the pace of work and she did not shy away from expressing her displeasure.    “I use this airport regularly,” she began. “To tell you the truth I’m yet to be convinced about what they(referring to FAAN) are remodelling when this place is still as hot as hell.” When she was told that the remodelling effort would take care of that, she only rolled her eyes heaven ward in disbelief.

Mrs. Chukwuemeka’s reaction can be forgiven. This airport has been in a state of disrepair for so long that even one with great faith in our government might become a doubting Thomas. But this reporter was informed that the chillers were a challenge because they were as old as the airport and the initial engineers who fitted them cannot be reached.

The most FAAN can do, therefore, is to start the process all over, an official disclosed. Apart from the cooling problem, the remodelling efforts would take care of the long queues at the immigration and security counters as well as deal with the long wait at the baggage collection point.

According to officials, on completion, the three huge conveyor belts have the capacity to handle a total of two  flights on arrival at the same time. Unlike the present situation where baggage point to conveyor is about 120 metres, once completed, baggage point is less than 10 metres to the conveyor.

On completion of the expansion project, the terminal will have a total of 24 immigration counters and 20 security screening points. This according to Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, would enhance passenger facilitation. The new figures more than double the existing immigration counters and screening points at the moment.

Conveniences have always been sore points for many travellers at this and other airports. But this has been taken care of in the on-going efforts as both the International and just recently commissioned General Aviation Terminal, GAT, now boast of state-of-the-art rest rooms.

An interesting angle to the Road-map of the aviation industry is the aerotropolis project. An internationally embraced concept, aerotropolis is about building cities with complete infrastructure around airports. This new business module is another window to attract foreign investment and grow local economy, this reporter was told.

To this end, business owners such as bureau de change, food courts, etc, are being encouraged to take up the expanded spaces within the airport area. Within the terminal building, some bureaux de change had taken up counters and business was in full swing.

According to Dati, more of such business owners are being encouraged to do business within the terminal instead of the car park. Although, Food Courts have not started fully, it is believed they would become operational once  work is completed.

Added to this is enough space for many shopping outlets, including duty-free shops of international standard. As part of the income generating effort, a new hotel and modern car park is proposed just outside the terminal building and a 19- room transit hotel within the terminal

“We intend to build a temporary car park near the church. We would have a gate separating the car park from the church. So, there would be no meeting point. Shuttle buses for arrival would be provided to bring passengers to the car park,” Dati informed.

To deal with the power situation, a new power station which has been test run is being prepared for commissioning. The station which has six engines with a capacity of 4850Kva per engine is expected to improve power supply at the airport. According to the engineer on site, two of the engines are expected to run simultaneously. The engineswhich are fully automated, he informed, would be powered by PMS rather than diesel because, according to him, diesel takes time to pick and this would delay operations in the airport.