Keyamo Extols FAAN’s Collaborative Efforts with Private Sector

Chinedu Eze

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for its collaborative efforts with the private sector in modernising airport infrastructure.

Keyamo made this remark at the weekend when he unveiled upgraded facilities at the E-Wing Departure of the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA), Lagos meant for easy passenger movement and also inaugurated four Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses for passengers conveyance at the airside of the airport.

The minister praised the partnership between FAAN and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in modernizing the facilities at the terminal, highlighting this project as part of a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and entertainment within airport terminals.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, assured aviation stakeholders of the organisation’s continued focus on improving facilities and services at airports.

She said contrary to reports of dwindling international passenger traffic, flight operations has been on the upswing, noting that with the opening of the new international terminal in Lagos, congestion of passengers and lack of space for airlines have become a thing of the past because the airport has adequate facilities to accommodate growing passengers and additional airlines.

In his speech, the Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Oliver Alawuba, said the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) have been in a mutually beneficial relationship with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria for the past 22 years.

He said, “This project represents not only a milestone in the enhancement of our nation’s aviation infrastructure, but it is also a testament to the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors’

Alawuba commended the Minister for improved compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC); increase in Nigeria’s compliance score from 49% to 70.5%, making aircraft leasing and

financing more accessible to Nigerian airlines.