FAAN boss decries low performance of Nigerian airports, calls for innovation

BY CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

The managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku says majority of the airports in the country are operating below capacity despite funds allocation.

Speaking on airport viability at the ongoing Airport Business Summit and Expo 2024, Mrs Kuku revealed that the Minna airport has 122 staff without a single flight to the airport

According to the FAAN boss, the organisation will not put structure without coloration with infrastructure that cannot compete

Kuku, noted that in airport management, Nigeria is scratching the surface. According to her, innovation is needed to sustain aviation in the country which must come from private sectors and not government.

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She noted that some groups were opposed to concession and private sector participation as a result of fear of the unknown but allayed fears that concession remained the solution when the legal frames are in place.

“Legal frameworks that allow concession model should be put in place to allow it work”

Kuku also mentioned joint venture as another way for airport survival.

She however expressed hope that not all is doomed in the aviation sector in the country as enabling business environment is needed for airport viability.

She called for incentives such as waving of landing and parking fees to airlines in route development of smaller airports in the country to allow them to survive and make the airports viable.

According to Mrs Kuku, diversifying of revenue stream through cargo will generate fund for FAAN and called on all agencies to assist the agency in achieving its goals.

While acknowledging the absence of airport master plan in the country, the FAAN boss admitted the congestion of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos apron adding that FAAN was in talks with IATA to develop some airports as hubs.