Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, attested to the fact that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport accounts for 60 percent of entry point and exit into Nigeria.
He, however lamented that of all the five international airports in Nigeria, the old terminal of the Lagos International airport is in a state of disrepair.
The minister made the declaration while the task force committee he set up on the relocation of foreign airlines from the old terminal at the Lagos airport to the new terminal submitted the report of its findings and recommendations to him in Abuja.
While thanking the committee for accepting to serve the country selflessly, the minister pledged his commitment to ensure the overhaul of the terminal before the end of his administration.
He recalled the fire incident of September 6, 2023, which necessitated the hasty relocation of all airlines from the old terminal, while assuring that adequate measures will be put in place to avert future occurrence of such incident.
The minister who pledged to implement the recommendation of the committee as soon as possible, directed that a meeting be held with the contractors handling the airport on issues of substandard equipment and the possibility of opening up other entry points into the airport, including the expansion of their work schedule which is part of the PPP agreement.
He used the opportunity to speak on his master plan for the sector which he said will contain a comprehensive plan for the airports, noting that having a master plan will eradicate wastage and encourage concessionaires making the airports a hub indeed.
According to the minister, the master plan will take into consideration the existing structures while renovation of the old terminal will not be disrupted.
Speaking earlier, team leader of the task force, Hassan Musa, ex-director at the department of Air Transport Management while relating the expanded terms of reference of the task force, said part of the findings shows that the fire incident which necessitated the sudden movement of all airlines to Terminal 2 compounded the challenges that has been existing since operations in April 2022.
He said some equipment installed at the new terminal at international wing of the Lagos airport failed to meet the international standard, noting also that there are no adequate entrance and exits to the Terminal 2 to meet.
