Abuja runway: Replicate same speed to fix aviation, others

Government lived up to its word by delivering on the Abuja airport runway rehabilitation. The same speed should be applied to fix the rot in the aviation industry, WOLE SHADARE writes.

A hard sell

It is no longer news that the Abuja airport runway rehabilitation was completed in record time. If for nothing, it shows that with cooperation, the aviation industry can really develop beyond what it is at present. It was a hard sell for the Federal Government when the idea to shut the Abuja airport was mooted.

Criticisms trailed the plan. From the National Assembly to the least person, the plan sounded crazy, considering the importance of Abuja airport to the economic importance of Nigeria. But government was convinced of what it wanted to do and pursued it vigorously.

For the first time in many years, not a few were awed by the speedy response to an emergency, completing the project in record time and again showing the can-do spirit of Nigerians when they are faced with enormous challenges.

Promise kept

Not even an optimist would stake his reputation that the facility would be completed in record time but well ahead of schedule. In a remarkable act of service delivery, the aviation authorities kept to the promise of reconstructing the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, within six weeks.

The airport, which is the only one servicing the federal capital, had been closed on March 8 with the promise of being reopened on April 19. The efficiency, which the authorities brought to bear in achieving this goal, was commended by many, just as they called on all levels of government to bring the same zeal to bear in seeing to the completion of other projects not only in the aviation industry, but one that touches ordinary Nigerians.

The fear

In many cases, such projects have been abandoned or funds meant for them embezzled with no one asking questions. Aviation analysts believe that this is equally the opportunity Nigeria has been waiting for to fix some of the decrepit airport facilities and prepare the country for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certification of the Lagos and Abuja airports.

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Lagos is first in line for certification and not a few believe that the country has no reason to fail this litmus test.

Begging opportunities

Nigeria has untapped regional opportunities to become the hub in West Africa. But there are some fundamental constraints.

These impediments include under-financed domestic airlines, under-utilised Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), weak corporate governance in the industry and poor incentives for private sector participation. These challenges have resulted in weak institutions, lack of economic opportunity, inability of the sector to significantly contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and low capacity to take advantage of the growing market potential.

Upcoming ICAO audit

Nigeria scaling the test would, in no small measure, position the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and enhance its capacity to be a regional hub because of its strategic location. To achieve this, it must first put its infrastructure in order. Despite the several billions of naira spent on airport remodeling, not much was achieved because the project was not strategic and one done with ulterior motive and one that was not commensurate with enormous funds spent.

Two airports generate revenue for others

Over the years, 90 per cent of the revenue earned are from two airports – Lagos and Abuja.

This indicates that majority of the airports in Nigeria As a matter of fact, Port-Harcourt International airport was selected as the worst airport in the country.

The verdict came as shock to few people but to many discern ing minds, it was a verdict that best qualifies the infrastructural decay at virtually all the country’s airports.

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Not a few believe that for Nigeria to really tap significantly its potentials in aviation business, it must attain its position as a regional hub, connecting more destinations across the globe.

This will attract huge traffic and investments into its fledging aviation industry.are significantly underutilized, an unhealthy situation if Nigeria must be an aviation hub. In 2014, none of Nigeria’s over 24 airports met the criteria to be selected amongst the top aerodromes in Africa. Facility upgrade

To this end, the Federal Government, through FAAN, has begun upgrade of facilities at both the Lagos and Abuja airports and channeling same zeal, energy into fixing facilities at the Abuja and Lagos airports, aside the upgrade of Kaduna airport, which served as alternate airport when Abuja airport was closed for six weeks for the runway repair.

FAAN had to step up its game shortly after the visit of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the Lagos airport penultimate month to see things for himself.

A tour of the terminal recently leaves one in utter shock of transformation of the terminal. Work is still going on the chillers that had broken down for years. New lounges are springing up giving travellers first class services, new car parks are nearing completion; private operators are providing specialised services to improve passengers’ comfort at the Lagos and Abuja airports.
First Aircraft
The cooling systems at both the departure and arrival halls are functioning. The toilets are neater as they have been refurbished. Aside that, the hitherto chaotic baggage reclaimed areas are now serene.

This was made possible by the fixing of broken down carousels that have now been fixed. The signages are conspicuous, directing users of the terminal to know their directions to every areas of the facility.

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Experts’ views

Deputy General Manager (Operations), FAAN, Victoria Shina-aba disclosed that the agency decided to do the quick fixes, those that do not require heavy funding, adding that the major ones would be fixed after conclusion of the smaller ones.

Her words, “What we are doing are the quick fixes that we think we can do, but then, the big ones like the travellators, escalators’, the departure conveyor belts and things that we may not be able to do. It would require huge government funding. We are going to have some intervention in carrying out those major repairs, changing them totally.

Spokeswoman for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said intuitive wayfinding gives the passenger more control over their journey and this in turn results in direct benefits not just for the passenger themselves, but also for the airport. Also of importance to many is the concession of some airports that government expended so much energy on, but seems not to be making headway with it.

The privatisation of airport infrastructure globally is on the rise as evidenced by an increase in refinancing activities and the diversification of revenue base. In recent times, airports are focusing on customer experience by being more creative with airport services and generation of nonaeronautic revenue,” he said.

Conclusion

Government needs the speed it applied on the Abuja airport runway to assist Nigerian airlines get out of the woods by way of eliminating or reducing multiple taxes imposed on airlines and formulate policies that are beneficial to the survival of the carriers.

To many, the survival of the airlines is the key to a sustainable and prosperous aviation industry in Nigeria.

Wole Shadare