LAGOS LIGA AND THAT FAAN AIRPORT POSITION DOCUMENT

Lagos Liga’s popularity brings floods of memories of recreational events, writes JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA

In the 90s, I did not know much of the story line but I knew that adults gathered at 8pm every week day to watch Checkmate. I knew some of the characters. I know an Akpan liked to cry, a Segun Kadiri had a look for the cameras that entailed the use of his finger on his face. I probably would have known even more but it was always a battle between staying awake and keeping up with Checkmate. There was Behind the Cloud, Ripples and the likes. Years later came Super Story on Thursdays. There were Sunday Shows too, Everyday People in later years, Fuji House of Commotion, etc.

One thing all these shows had in common was that there was a set time for them on TV. If you missed it, you’d have to endure being told what happened. If you caught it, chances are that at that same moment, you were watching with millions of Nigerians. We probably did not know it at the time, but those moments were a shared ritual. There was a social affinity that defied class, politics and religion.

Technology has since changed everything. You can pick when where and when to watch your shows now. TV is just one of the options, not even a primary option for many and even for TV, you can record the show to catch up later. That’s when the entire season of the show is not being delivered at a go. What we gained in the power to choose, we lost in that sense of community that came with following the same stories at the same time, every weekday and weekend. Those days will never return.

Lagos Liga’s popularity on the Nigerian internet space over the last four weeks or so brought back memories of the times we cared about the same events. The tournament kicks off today, but it has been quite inspiring following its impact online. Players and fans are traveling to Lagos to play and cheer the teams. One of the teams got sponsored by an airline. Some 192 footballers that otherwise would not have been engaged this month are now playing to win N50m. Based on the number of matches they need to play to win the bumper prize, six matches, that’s the biggest prize money per game in Nigerian football.

Considering the institutional role played by the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) and its DG, Mr Lekan Fatodu, playing as partners of this recreational league, it is a reflection and a great example of what’s possible when government plays its role well, understanding its place as a facilitator. It takes a progressive organization like the LSSC and its world-class staff to understand the power of such platforms like Lagos Liga.

Football tournaments generally leave legacies in their wake, Lagos Liga is already showing elements of that. Infrastructure at the Campos Memorial Mini Stadium has further improved and there are reports the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (former Onikan Stadium) will follow suit as the games enter the business stage. One day, we can expect tourists to visit Nigeria just to watch or may be even play this tournament.

This brings me to the position document released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). If you are used to reading this page, you know my views on what needs to change at our airports. I enumerated some of them again on X.

NDLEA should have no business with searches or questioning of passengers. I should have no business seeing an NDLEA official except my luggage triggers their interest. Then, AVSEC can hand the passenger over to NDLEA. NDLEA can be at the airport but to be seen by a passenger means that passenger is already in trouble.

Customs should have a limited role. This is on the back of a recent court ruling. This means that Customs should only be required to deal with passengers who bring goods that require their attention. Your luggage should not have to be opened by customs officials all the time. It is a waste of national resources and a waste of passengers’ time.

After the scanners, when leaving Nigeria, passengers have no business with any official except their luggage triggered a need. That means all the NDLEA, Customs and whatever else others waiting to ask pointless questions right after the scanner, they should be posted where they can do actual jobs and not the make-belief consular one.

DSS have no business with documenting passports in or out. Leave that to Immigration. DSS and Immigration already exchange data. That process must become robust enough to keep DSS away from arriving and departing passengers. Again, except when needed.

Arriving passengers should only be engaged based on suspicion. The current practise of engaging every arriving passenger and asking that they open their luggage is anachronistic and frankly speaking, barbaric.

The FAAN position, signed by the MD/CE Mrs Olubunmi Kuku and thankfully approved by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo (SAN), addresses some of these issues head on. The elimination of joint inspection tables. That means we don’t get to see those officials at those tables on departure and arrival anymore. Passenger screening will now be streamlined, so checkpoints are reduced for passengers. Other measures were announced by this new position.

This suggests to me that the right people are listening and taking responsibility. A policy position and its execution are two different things, but the position is a template that the agency and the people can use to engage and monitor progress. Good intention is a form of progress, enhancing the capacity of the officials to carry out these new procedures is the next step.

Credit to the MD of FAAN and the Minister of Aviation for doing this. It is my belief that were they to succeed here, it will be one of the most telling impacts made at our airports, ever. And then, events like Lagos Liga can confidently grow to attract the rest of the world to Nigeria.

 Omojuwa is chief strategist Alpha Reach/BGX Publishing