Abuja: Building airport of the future?

With massive infrastructural development in Abuja, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport may well be regarded as Nigeria’s modern and best aerodromes with the most modern light rail system and other facilities, writes, WOLE SHADARE

Nauseating experience

As a widely travelled person within and outside the shores of Nigeria, the differences between aviation infrastructure (and by implication, airport experience) in the Western world, and even in some African countries, including South Africa, Ethiopia and even nearby Ghana were disconcertingly nauseating. It was always a nightmare just thinking about the prospects of passing through the country’s airports – actually experiencing it was quite some hell.

Airport architects are busy rethinking the Abuja terminal experience, and that’s a good thing. But don’t expect any major changes, at least not soon. Instead, travellers will get incremental improvements.

Other climes

It’s not happening fast enough for many travellers, but many of the world’s airports have over several years morphed into community spaces, where travellers can spend time in a yoga room, beer hall, butterfly garden, or children’s playground before they fly.

So far, this is a trend most often seen at forward-thinking airports, such as Singapore Changi, with its butterfly garden, Hong Kong’s airport with its IMAX Movie Theatre, and Seoul Incheon with its indoor skating rink.

In the United States, one of the most innovative amenities is the yoga room at San Francisco International — a unique spot, but nothing amazing.

Expert’s view

A former managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun recently called for immediate expansion of airport facilities and upgrade of landing aids to meet projected annual passenger demand of 30 million by 2030.

He said that if the current decay is not arrested, Nigeria would have to spend $50 billion for total revamp of the facilities.

Nigeria has suffered infrastructure deficit of public utilities due to complacency, lack of commitment to nation building and inefficient utilisation of government resources.

To solve this, government must get the private sector involved in the development of airport infrastructure to move at the pace needed to end the decay going on at the nation’s airports to be able to meet the passenger demand.

Passenger growth

Passenger traffic is growing at 6-7 per cent annually; although it is subjected to other socio-economic variables, such as the growth in GDP and disposable income, especially with the active population (the middle class).

But government’s commitment to changing the narrative has seen enormous on-going work at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, developing aviation through investment in rail transport linking the airport to the Abuja metropolis.

The first phase of the project connects the city center to Abuja airport, stopping at the standard gauge railway station in Idu. The Abuja Metro Line was launched on July 12,  2018.

The light rail is a modern transportation mode designed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at the cost of $824 million, which will connect the satellite communities in the Federal Capital Territory and relieve the residents and users of their transport burdens.

Rail system

The purpose of the rail station is to bring in travellers from various parts of the city to the airport to connect to their local and international flights. It will also move passengers from the airport to the city just like what is obtainable in many parts of the world,

It’s always a bonus to go to cities that had easy rail connections from the airport to downtown. Rails and subways are always cheaper than a cab, and during rush hour or heavy traffic, it can be quicker.

The train ride from the airport to the city cost just N1, 000 while a taxi ride to the city goes between N5, 000 and N6, 000.

Easy movement

Speaking about the link of the train station to the airport, the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika said, “The impact is that it would make movement easy. Movement will be seamless. It means that you will come in from the light rail and straight into the aircraft and vice-versa.

“It also makes transportation more efficient. Everything about air transport is efficiency and this connection to the light rail will significantly impact on that.

The train will also enable people to connect to their homes and their work places in shorter time than before and also reduce the pressure on our roads. It will also ease the traffic congestion on these arteries that lead to the airport. Abuja will be a classical example of multi-modal integration of transportation, which makes things better.

At the train stations you find hotels, you find shopping malls and other businesses, you find residential facilities. Land values are going to go up. This is a huge, huge thing. This was actually in the Abuja master plan in 1978.

Service consistency

Passengers travel regularly (or in most cases) and demand consistency of service. Consistency of services in the form of computerized reservation system, corporate identification, computerized check in, through check in to final destination, frequent flyer tracking, branded or business lounges and above all recognition.

It contributes significantly to the value and utility of goods and services by moving them promptly from where they are produced to where they are needed.

 In socio-political content, transport provides the instruments to enhance human interaction, blending of culture and tradition as well as integration of socio-political entities. Moreover it was stated that the aviation industry was designed for the transportation of people, animals and cargoes from one point to another within a short time.

This aim should be the pivot of many airline companies operating in the aviation industry. As means of carriage in the air, it is pertinent for operators to always take right measures to meet the desires and demands of its customers.

Not a few believe that the current government is doing everything to change the face of aviation infrastructure. Just last month, the Port-Harcourt International airport terminal which had been abandoned since 2013 was completed.

Last words

With the new terminal building expected to be completed soon, the construction of a second runway, modernisation of the old terminal expected to be converted into domestic terminal, the Abuja airport could well be Nigeria’s airport of the future and one that may possibly be ranked as Nigeria’s best airport in terms of meeting basic and modern infrastructural demands.