Runway 18L at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos handles only diurnal operations because since the former minister of aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, re-commissioned the runway in 2008, airfield lights have not been installed. Consequently, domestic airlines that operate to Lagos after 6pm land on the international runway and taxi to the local terminal at huge costs. In this interview, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, explains why airfield lights have not been installed 13 years after.
Ime Akpan
RWY18L still operating without airfield lights
For the last two years since I became managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), our primary targets among them is the airfield lighting on runway 18L and then taxiway. We thank God; now taxiway is 95 per cent done. 18Left has been delayed because of a contract that has been for many years. And finally, the honorable minister has graciously accepted to resolve that issue that has been protracted and he has agreed to grant us permission or approval to quickly procure a new lighting system.
You know FAAN is a government agency; we cannot work and procure a new project when there is an existing one on the same facility. So many things you see that are delayed are not delayed because of negligence or lack of attention, it’s because you have to follow due process. After two years taxiway, no issues. If not for the issue of an existing contract we would have finished lighting before because it is more critical. Two years we couldn’t resolve the issues so we decided ‘let the ministry resolve it and approve for us to procure the lightings so we can fix it within six months’. And within six months we installed the lighting and the runway will operate 24 hours. It has all been agreed in principle; we are just waiting for implementation.
Well, we have in principle the understanding of the ministry and the minister so we are waiting for the documents to come. It’s only when the documents come you can start processing the next stage of the business. We are rest assured now that in principle we have all agreed and understood
Litigation on RWY18L AFL contract
I am not aware of any court case on the lighting; it’s just that there is an existing contract on it. It was issued many years ago and it’s not something we know much about and so I cannot say much about it.
It is, however, part of government’s regulations that you cannot procure the same thing twice until you resolve the first one. The ministry has resolved the first one and has taken over, freeing FAAN now with an approval to quickly resolve it because it is a critical requirement. So the key consideration for us here is that if not for the existing contract, we would have finished that before taxiway. If you compare, the lighting is more critical than taxiway; but now taxiway is 95% complete. You will not recognise it from the taxiway that was overridden with grass and shrubs, and this is brand new. So it’s a clear indication that AFL would have been done if not for the existing contract.
Runway end safety area (RESA), passenger facilitation
The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wanted to see and inspect; we decided to do a joint inspection. We went and saw and that some airlines were already onboard like KLM/Air France. British Airways, Delta already have their cables; the director general even asked specifically of Delta and he was shown. They are not fully onboard but they have gone far to be fully integrated on the RESA.
The technicians came almost two weeks ago; all the equipment are here and from all indications within the next maybe 10 days and two weeks we will have everyone fully on board because the team is ready and the airlines are ready.
The target from the outset for FAAN was to make sure we improve the system; we had a system that covered only two airports – Lagos and Abuja – and even at that of the seven services to be provided, about three were provided in Abuja; all the others were not provided for the whole 10 years. So we decided let’s now cover five international airports; this is about the national spread and we’ve achieved that with the RESA project.
CUTE, CUPPS, CUSS
The previous system we had is CUTE, (common user terminal equipment) but we now went for the upgrade, new technology of the CUPPS (common user passengers processing system). This was the new technology since 2009 and now 11 years later FAAN and Nigeria are using the CUPPS and for five airports.
Additionally, the self service kiosk we never had CUSS (common user self service); it comes with it now. The departure control system we never had is all now here, baggage reconciliation system is coming here; FIDS (flight information display system) in Lagos but not in Abuja is now all over. So, all the items spelt out in the contract are here, the improved package and improved soft ware with a much wider coverage for all Nigerians. So, for us we are very proud of this and we regret the inconveniences that happened along the way; never intended but when you have a partner and one party decided to cause disruption when only one or two people in the world that can do it then naturally disruptions are inevitable. But it’s not intended and the payment that we made to ensure that they don’t disrupt is the evidence. We made payment of US$500,000 so they can come. They said they will; they acknowledged and said NO. We got approval from the minister to pay them again two weeks ago even though we know we have already started fixing the situation. We are an honourable organization; so by the time they say they are ready we already know we have migrated but we are not vindictive.
The payment we are making is for extended service from October last year to June; their contract expired but they gave extra months. So we are paying for that extension period.
CUSS, they are already here. They even came before RESA. What we are talking to you about now are all 100 per cent in Nigeria. It was here since last year, the corona was what delayed it from being implemented.
