Says replacement of aviation agency chiefs endorsed by President Buhari
The minister of aviation and aerospace, Mr. Hadi Sirika yesterday commissioned the first phase of the expansion of the general aviation terminal and the cargo terminal at the Lagos Airport.
Speaking at the GAT, the minister said the N2.2 billion projects were conceived to address the decades-long limited capacity challenge of the terminal.
The facility has the complements of three standard departure halls (two downstairs, and one upstairs), three VIP lounges (one downstairs and two upstairs), two protocol lounges (one apiece, downstairs and upstairs), three lifts (departure, VIP, and Protocol), four toilets, five office spaces, five staircases, amongst others.
Prior to its expansion, the minister said the Zulu terminal could handle only 256 passengers but with its modernisation the number increased to 1,054
He explained that the geometric increase in the country’s population which results in increase in passenger volume has overwhelmed available facilities at the GAT terminal
“As part of efforts to address this challenge, the federal government at some point developed the Zulu terminal to complement the existing old terminal, but the capacity limitation situation still persisted.
“Oftentimes, particularly at peak periods, you will observe that facilities in this terminal are usually overstretched because the volume of passengers using the facilities far outweighs the capacity available.
‘We therefore evaluated the situation, and decided to expand the terminal, as a short term measure to address the situation. It is our intention to build a new and much bigger domestic terminal in the nearest future.
He said the facility “is a product of thought” and expressed hope that “the provision of this facility will enhance passenger facilitation at this terminal, and will also improve the revenue generation of FAAN.”
On the removal of aviation agency chiefs, the minister said the reshuffle would continue until May 29, 2023.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the removal of parastatal heads, irrespective of the time of the action is taken.
Recall that the managing director of FAAN, Capt. Capt. Rabiu Yadudu was relieved of his appointment and replaced by the former general manager of Abuja Airport, Mr. Kabir Muhammed, while the acting managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), Mr. Matthew Pwajok, was succeeded by Mr. Tayib Odunowo who was pulled out from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) where he was the director of aerodrome and airspace standards.
“The reorganisation approved by Mr. President is an ongoing process and it will continue. There is nothing under the carpet if it is being approved by Mr. President. Government is continuum; they had their timeline, tenure to come in and time to go. We all have our time to go.
“This is governance and it is a serious business. Whatever action or inaction you are taking, you are taking it on behalf of over 200 million people. There has been a new accountant general of the federation; there has been a new Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board, North East Development Commission (NEDC) and so many others. So, why me? Why is aviation the focus? What is the intention? What do you want to achieve? Why me?”
He maintained that the reorganisation in the aviation industry was not new and described the criticisms the exercise has elicited as “mischief.”
