Speaking in Akure recently, the airport Manager, Mrs
Victoria Shin - Aba said the low level of flight operations have negatively
affected the airport.
She said that the airport records three flights weekly
with passenger traffic of between 20 and 30 through Associated Airlines on the
Akure-Abuja route.
According to her, “We need more flights and more airlines
to come to Akure airport. There is no life here with the level of operations”
She explained that discussion was on going with some
airlines to commence flights into the airport from Lagos.
Shin - Aba who called for the completion of the abandoned
terminal building for over six months, appealed to the federal government to
order the contractor back to site with a view of completing the terminal
building.
Of the 21 airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN only Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Benin airports can be said to be having some appreciable flow of traffic.
Therefore, should the control of the 21 airports remain under one authority or not?
Frankly,as in everything that is anti-federal in the true sense of the word"federal"in Nigeria,the 21 airports do not have to be under one huge,big federal authority for them to be optimally utilized and effective.Some of them can be concession to states that are up to it to run or even private individuals or corporations.However,there must be some sort of policy guidelines to prevent too much commercialization such as we see in Warrri airport being run by shell.This will also reduce to some level,the monumental corruption in FAAN as currently constituted and run.
ReplyDeleteKunle Martins, President, National Association of Nigeria Cabin Crew
Nigeria's 21 airports should be concessioned to specialised companies to meet international best practice. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAir Vice Marshal Smith.
Actually the airports we are talking about come under two Authorities: the true Authority i.e. the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and FAAN, which has held on to the title "Authority" against all logic and common sense. If the question is rephrased "Should Nigeria's 21 Federally-owned airports remain under one central management?" then the answer is a resounding "NO!" as must be clear to anyone who has any knowledge or experience in this field. For those who lack direct knowledge or experience one may simply ask if they are aware of any business or service that has ever been well managed by a Federal Agency (phones, power, transport, water, hotels etc. etc......) and why they think FAAN should be different.
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