FAAN says old airport equipment will be replaced gradually
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Airports in the country cannot operate 24 hours at the moment because it is not sustainable, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said.
FAAN Managing Director Rabiu Yadudu explained, however, that old equipment are being replaced to upgrade airports across the country.
He disclosed in Lagos that some equipment, including baggage landing, runway, and central air conditioning system, are more than 40 years old and the FAAN inaugurated a committee in 2021 to assess how they can be modernised.
He said equipment are supposed to be replaced every 15 years but some have been used for between 25 and 30 years.
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Replacement of old equipment is gradual
“The major repair is of ageing equipment and components. I give you an example in Lagos; abandoned runway and airfield lighting. Also, the key elements at MMA and any other airports that we did not replace, but now, we are replacing them.
“Some were last replaced in either 1980 or 1985. Now, we are replacing them. It is only the air conditioning system that we have not yet procured, but we are processing it and the airfield lighting,” Yadudu added, per Nairametrics reporting.
“However, all other basic ones such as disabled aircraft, baggage handling and other basic ones that the people see every day, we have started with them. The avio bridges, we have started with them and that is in terms of infrastructure.
“So, we have a committee that is working and they gave us the state-of-the-art equipment for all the airports so that we can make use of it, work with the ministry and use it to know their status so that we can plan.
“This year, we will work in Akure, Borno, Sokoto and next year, we will work in Port Harcourt, Benin and Yola. We don’t have all the money to fix all, but we will do the entire airports gradually.’’
Yadudu said relocation to the new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos (MMIA) would be done in phases.