FAAN shifts focus from ‘glitzy’ terminals to critical airside rehabilitation

For decades, Nigeria’s airport terminals have hogged the public spotlight. Glitzy departure lounges and passenger-facing aesthetics frequently captured media attention, while a much more critical crisis brewed out of sight.

Beneath the surface, the country’s vital airside assets were quietly deteriorating under the strain of surging aircraft movements, unpredictable climate shifts, and years of deferred capital investment.

Several runways across the nation had long outlived their design lifespan. Taxiways were crumbling, airfield lighting systems remained stuck in the past, and urgent engineering interventions were repeatedly sidelined as passenger traffic continued to climb.

Across the country, similar attention has been directed towards runway maintenance programmes, pavement assessments, airfield lighting upgrades, engineering improvements and preventive maintenance systems designed to strengthen operational resilience across FAAN-managed airports.

 For airlines, dependable airside infrastructure translates into improved operational reliability, reduced delays and lower maintenance risks; for passengers, it means safer journeys.

Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has launched one of the most aggressive airside rehabilitation and safety-critical infrastructure renewal programs in recent history. It is a sweeping transformation that is shifting the focus from superficial terminal upgrades to the literal bedrock of aviation safety in Nigeria.

This aggressive infrastructure drive aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s position that robust infrastructure is a primary catalyst for economic growth, foreign investor confidence, and national competitiveness.

Not a few believe that under Kuku’s watch, FAAN has emerged as a frontline agency translating that executive vision into tangible tarmac realities.

She has been vocal about this strategic redirection, repeatedly warning that sustainable airport development is an illusion if administrative focus remains solely on passenger lounges while neglecting the core operational infrastructure that keeps aircraft safely in the sky and on the ground.

One of the earliest and most significant milestones of Kuku’s administration was the successful completion of the rehabilitation of Runway 18R/36L and Taxiway B at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

This intervention rescued a critical asset that had long been a logistical headache, immediately boosting Lagos’ capacity for uninterrupted, 24-hour flight operations and significantly mitigating risks during night-time services.

But the work does not stop in Lagos. FAAN has scaled this intensity across the federation, deploying aggressive runway maintenance programs, comprehensive pavement strength assessments, airfield lighting upgrades, and modern preventive maintenance systems.

Experts who spoke to Aviation Metric said that for commercial airlines, this dependable infrastructure yields a direct economic dividend: improved operational reliability, minimised flight delays, and reduced wear and tear on aircraft. For the travelling public, it means the most crucial metric of all: safer journeys.

The scale of the challenge ahead remains staggering. FAAN estimates that a colossal ₦580 billion will ultimately be required to comprehensively overhaul and rehabilitate the runway networks across its entire airport grid.

“Approximately ₦580 billion is needed to fully bridge decades of accumulated infrastructure deficits and safeguard the future of Nigerian aviation,” said the agency.

In modern aviation, aerodrome certification is the ultimate badge of operational excellence. It signals to international watchdog bodies, global airlines, and investors that an airport complies with strict International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards governing emergency preparedness, structural integrity, and rigorous safety management systems.

Nigeria’s recent strides toward full aerodrome certification are the direct result of this coordinated investment strategy, bringing together FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and key stakeholders.

A former Assistant Secretary of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said, ultimately, this massive engineering push is about much more than laying asphalt and installing lights.

“By fixing the foundational assets of the industry, boosting regulatory compliance, and restoring investor confidence, the Kuku-led FAAN is systematically building a safer, more resilient, and globally competitive aviation sector for Nigeria”, he added

Wole Shadare