FAAN Partners International Airlines to Resolve Terminal Bottlenecks

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to streamline airport protocol operations and tackle persistent passenger facilitation bottlenecks at the nation’s international gateways.

In a strategic alignment meeting held on Thursday last week, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, FAAN’s Directorate of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection engaged directly with the Airline Operators Committee (AOC).

The session aimed to establish a seamless interface between the Department of Protocol and Passages and foreign airlines, while addressing structural deficiencies affecting traveller comfort.

A primary driver of the engagement was the need to reassert statutory authority over terminal protocol management.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Henry Agbebire, emphasised that FAAN, in direct coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remains the sole legally recognised authority responsible for protocol services at Nigerian airports.

To prevent friction at key passenger touchpoints, FAAN is introducing a more integrated, one-on-one coordination model with international airlines.

Airline operators have been urged to accord FAAN Protocol arrangements priority attention and fast-track processing at check-in counters.

This is designed to optimise terminal throughput and eliminate delays for designated VIPs, diplomats, and special-category passengers.

While the meeting focused on protocol efficiency, airline representatives used the interactive session to highlight critical operational deficits that continue to hamper the overall passenger experience.

Wole Shadare