ASRTI Meets FAAN MD/CE, Demands Safety, Passenger Comfort At Airports
Members of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) yesterday held a meeting with the management team of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, presenting demands for improved safety measures, revenue opportunity maximization, passenger comfort, security and infrastructure standards improvement at airports across Nigeria, among other proposals.
After commending Mrs. Kuku for efforts of her leadership to improve the airports since she assumed office, the ASRTI team led by its President, Air Cdr. Demola Onitiju (Rtd), made a case for enforcement of compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) signed between FAAN and concessionaires at the airports, provision of better comfort for airport users, including the physically challenged passengers, who require separate facilities to access the terminal lounge.
Another demand was regulation of concessionaires’ access to the newly commissioned terminals and a monitoring device to ensure that duty free shop operators sell only what they were granted FAAN approval to sell at the airports.
“In the interest of health safety of travelers, who are consumers and standard international best practices, it is important for FAAN to evolve some certification processes and establish who is selling what among the retail shop operators,” said Onitiju.
He also called for urgent action on the menace of rats at the new terminal of the Lagos airport, which equally constitutes a health hazard. The issue of establishing security fence at the airports in line with ICAO standards was emphasized and the need to relocate the Lagos airport toll gate and have two, such that there is an entry into and exit from the airport area, was proposed. Those driving into the airport roads area would then pay toll, but at while exiting at the exit point, they don’t pay, and vice versa. This ASRTI believes, would help FAAN revenue generation.
Responding to these and other proposals, Mrs. Kuku thanked the ASRTI and commended efforts of the NGO which she described as a pressure group, to contribute to the industry’s development.
Kuku said the ongoing infrastructure projects, already incorporated the needs of physically challenged passengers and that a brand new elevator was already being installed, adding that the physically challenged passengers were being considered in the ongoing facilities upgrade plan.
She also noted that FAAN was already working on a revalidation process for concessionaires, as the Business Development Directorate was already reviewing the activities of retail shop operators to check standards, while the challenges of security at the cargo section was already being addressed by the Cargo Services Directorate.
She further stated that on assumption of office, there was a huge gap in fire simulator training for Airports Fire Personnel but that the personnel could confirm that the gap was being filled already.
On the dilapidated road, linking FAAN Training School to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Kuku said her leadership succeeded in getting the Lagos State Government indicate interest in contributing to the road repairs, and that discussions were ongoing with both the State government and the federal government. She added that some of the airport projects such as perimeter fencing of all the major airports were humongous projects, way beyond what FAAN’S Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) could carry and may require the federal government’s involvement. She however stated that some aspects of the projects were already being done.
FAAN’s Director of Special Duties, Mr. Henry Agbebire said major steps were already being taken to tackle the menace of rats at the terminals, which ASRTI had noted, was a health safety hazard and an embarrassment to the country.
On behalf of FAAN, Mrs. Kuku presented a plaque of appreciation to ASRTI President, after President Onitiju presented to her, a book titled, Aviation Round Table @20, The Journey So Far.
ASRTI is the foremost Aviation NGO in Nigeria with the objective of “Advancement of Nigerian Aviation Sector, Through A Consistent Working Relationship With The Government, And Knowledge Sharing With Stakeholders.”
The organization has as members, professionals in aviation and allied business, with decades of experience in their turf. There are also, corporate members made up of organizations.
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