The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has expressed disappointment in the efficiency of some airports in the country, revealing that the majority of them are operating below capacity despite fund allocations.
Mrs. Kuku shared her concerns while speaking on the topic “Airport Viability” at the ongoing Airport Business Summit and Expo 2024, held at the international wing of the Lagos airport on Tuesday. She cited the Minna airport as an example, noting that it has 122 FAAN workers but cannot boast of a single flight.
The FAAN MD pledged that the organization will not construct structures that do not align with the infrastructure needed to compete globally. In her comparison of Nigerian airports to those in Egypt, she lamented that Nigeria is not only far behind the fellow African country but is merely scratching the surface.
She emphasized the importance of innovation for the sustainability of aviation in the country, which she said must come from the private sector rather than the government.
Mrs. Kuku acknowledged that some groups oppose concession and private sector participation due to fear of the unknown but assured that concession remains the solution when legal frameworks are in place.
Her words: “Legal frameworks that allow the concession model should be put in place to make it work.”
Mrs. Kuku also highlighted joint ventures as another way to ensure airport survival. She expressed hope that not all is doomed in the aviation sector, emphasizing the need for an enabling business environment for airport viability.
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She proposed offering incentives, such as waiving landing and parking fees for airlines, to encourage route development at smaller airports, thus making them viable.
Mrs. Kuku, who advocated for diversifying revenue streams through cargo to generate funds for FAAN, called on all agencies to assist in achieving this goal.
While acknowledging the absence of an airport master plan in the country, the FAAN MD admitted to the congestion at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos apron and added that FAAN was in talks with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to develop some airports as hubs.
