BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled a series of notable improvements at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aimed at enhancing the experience of passengers.
During a recent tour of the facility, Keyamo praised the airport’s management for implementing simple yet impactful changes, from increased lighting to new toilets and improved signage, all of which contribute to a more welcoming environment.
While he applauded the airport management, he said the level of development thus far was not the destination as the project was still work in progress.
He said: “We are touching all segments of the airport. This is not our big plan for the airport.
“The big plan for the airport, especially the five international airports, is still to concession them to the best in the world.
“We are looking for the best partners in the world to come and collaborate with us in turning the airport around and running them professionally. And all will be to the benefit, ultimate benefit of Nigerians.
“So, what you see there, what we have just come to do here, is to ensure that in the short term, in the interim, that the customers and the traveling public will have a wonderful experience.
“And in doing all of these small touches here and there, you can see that the new management has taken care of issues like even disability, those traveling with disabilities. They were not there before the lifts are working now.
“Even the new toilets too, you can see the toilets, particular units of those toilets that are also for the disabled. So, they are also thinking along those lines. And also for nursing mothers, you saw the units for nursing mothers.
“So, all segments of the traveling public, all types of the traveling public have been taken care of by this initiative that we are undertaking here. So, we are pushing for this. This will not stop our concession plan. It will not”
A key highlight of the tour was the introduction of an anti-harassment initiative.
Passengers entering the E-Wing of the airport are now greeted with signage discouraging touting and extortion, alongside a QR code that can be scanned to report incidents.
He noted; “We’ve taken the first major step to combat harassment at the airport. Nigerians can now use the QR code or hotline to report issues directly. Don’t wait to complain to the media—make the call and action will be taken.”
Keyamo emphasised that while these upgrades represent short-term improvements, the broader vision for Nigeria’s airports remains ambitious.
The tour also spotlighted features designed with inclusivity in mind, such as facilities for passengers with disabilities and nursing mothers.
These additions reflect a broader effort to ensure that all segments of the traveling public are catered to.
Keyamo assured the public that the concession process will be transparent, after halting a previous attempt due to concerns over transparency.
“Under the directive of President Bola Tinubu, we are committed to a transparent process that will attract the best partners to run our airports,” he stressed.
In her remarks, the FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Ojo reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to transforming the nation’s aviation sector through robust public-private partnerships (PPP).
“The minister has been clear, and I echo his sentiments—FAAN is ready for business, and so is the government.
“The investments needed to upgrade our aviation sector cannot solely come from the federal government. Over the past few weeks, the minister has been actively engaging with private sector players and global institutions to establish partnerships that will drive our development goals.
“We are looking at increasing our routes and improving our terminals. The minister has even gone on trips to explore leasing opportunities and aircraft acquisitions for airlines”, she said.
