The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured air travellers, airlines and airport users of the safety of the airports during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In a statement issued in Lagos, FAAN said the airports had been prepared to handle the usual surge in passenger traffic during the season.
“Security has been beefed up at all airports, especially the major international gateways in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, to ensure that passengers and airport users make use of airport facilities without any security threat.
“At our premier airport, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, a multi-storey car park was recently commissioned to ease ground facilitation, the VIP lounge has also been renovated to enhance passenger comfort, the carousels are working optimally, amidst other facilities upgrade currently on going.
“At all other airports, the Authority has put in place facilities, procedures and systems to ensure maximum comfort, safety and security of airport users during this season and beyond.
“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to appeal to passengers to please get to the airports early to conclude all check-in procedures in good time, so as to avoid the experience of missing their flights.
“This is important because of the heavy passenger traffic that is usually the experience around this time and the ongoing construction work by the Lagos State government on airport road, Lagos,” said FAAN in a statement signed by its spokeswoman, Mr. Henrietta Yakubu.
For its part, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) assured airlines and stakeholders on the provision of seamless and uninterrupted air navigation services throughout the festive season.
Its managing director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said all the country’s navigational facilities are working at optimal levels, with precision approach landing aids at the five international airports where traffic is high also in top form.
“The agency recognizes that apart from the adverse weather associated with this time of the year, there is also a huge demand for air traffic services and has taken steps to strengthen its technical and operational capacity,” he said.
As part of the measures, he said new very high frequency communication radios had been installed across the country to reduce congestion while the installation of Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) is going on at the Lagos and Kano airports.
“Air traffic controllers and other critical staff have been deployed to busy airports to ensure that there is no fatigue arising from pressure of work.
“Airspace managers in all Nigerian airports have consequently been directed to embark on measures to strengthen air traffic management and surveillance systems in their respective domains to ensure maximum operational safety during the yuletide, saying that the need for extra vigilance at this time became inevitable because of the usual upsurge in traffic and the increased tempo of airport activities that come with the season.
“If we must build upon our present gains in maintaining safety of air navigation in the country, it calls for synergy and collaboration among airspace managers as well as stakeholders in the industry,” said Akinkuotu