Kehinde Fajobi
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, praised the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for its hard work and the improved performance of immigration, customs, and security agencies.
He made the remarks while unveiling the newly renovated E Wing Departure Terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and introducing four CNG-powered buses.
Keyamo highlighted improvements in passenger experiences, saying, “People say their experience through this airport has improved a lot.
“There is less harassment, more professionalism on the part of all the agencies here. I want to thank them and appeal to them to continue.”
He also provided an update on ongoing cooperation with the National Security Adviser, stating that he, along with FAAN’s Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, had engaged the NSA to ensure inter-agency collaboration.
“We have written to the National Security Adviser and informed him of the steps we have, concrete steps we have taken now,” Keyamo said, adding, “So that as a nation, we can all work hand in hand to have a good arrival gateway into the country.”
On the terminal’s refurbishment, Keyamo explained that it was part of a broader effort to remodel airports through public-private partnerships.
He thanked the concessionaires, particularly the United Bank for Africa (UBA), for their involvement.
“What you see here today is the outcome of that partnership,” Keyamo said.
“I am sure you see the new floor, the more lighted departure hall and of course the adverts everywhere of the UBA.”
UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, echoed Keyamo’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in transforming national infrastructure.
“Public-Private Partnerships, PPPs, are more than contractual arrangements; they are vehicles for transformation,” Alawuba said.
He added that the renovated terminal marked significant progress in modernizing Nigeria’s airports, which would help boost the nation’s economy.
“By modernizing our airports, we position our nation as a hub for tourism, trade, and international investment,” he said.
Alawuba also praised Keyamo for improving Nigeria’s compliance with the Cape Town Convention, which has made aircraft leasing and financing more accessible to Nigerian airlines.
He highlighted the minister’s achievements, noting that Nigeria’s compliance score had risen from 49 to 70.5 percent.
“Expanded Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) with several countries, allowing Nigerian airlines access to more international routes and fostering collaboration with foreign airlines,” Alawuba added.
Other accomplishments include advancing the construction of a second runway at Abuja Airport and relocating FAAN headquarters to Lagos, saving over N500 million in travel expenses.