President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a decisive
directive prohibiting the sale or transfer of any property belonging to the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) located within or around airport
premises.
This directive was disclosed by the Minister of
Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), during a media
briefing at the State House in Abuja, following the Federal Executive Council
(FEC) meeting on Thursday.
According to Keyamo, the President’s order overrides
any previous plans or decisions by past administrations to dispose of FAAN’s
real estate assets. He described the properties as strategic national assets
that must remain in public ownership to support aviation safety and operational
efficiency.
He stressed the importance of maintaining staff
housing close to airports, especially for critical personnel such as air
traffic controllers and firefighters, to ensure swift emergency response.
“These properties will not be handed over to private
individuals or companies. Anyone who thinks they’ve acquired one should
reconsider,” Keyamo warned.
Eight Aviation Sector Approvals
The minister further revealed that the FEC approved
eight significant projects in the aviation sector aimed at enhancing safety,
technology, and infrastructure.
Among the approved projects were procurement and
maintenance deals for Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) systems at
Nigeria’s five major international airports—Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt,
and Enugu.
The council also sanctioned the deployment of
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) communication systems nationwide, alongside
14 new Very High Frequency (VHF) remote communication units for the Nigerian
Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). These upgrades are expected to strengthen
communication reliability and ensure safer air navigation.
Additionally, the FEC gave the green light for the
purchase of 15 specialised airport rescue and firefighting trucks to align with
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for emergency
response capability at major airports.
NAMA Headquarters and Airport Upgrades
Keyamo announced that NAMA, which currently rents
office space in Abuja, will soon move into a purpose-built headquarters to
enhance operational security and efficiency. He emphasised that critical
command centres should not be housed in commercial properties due to security
concerns.
The FEC also approved an economic viability study for
the potential privatisation of Port Harcourt International Airport operations.
Keyamo noted renewed private sector interest under the current administration,
stating that more than six firms have already expressed interest.
He assured aviation unions that no job losses would
occur as a result of the privatisation process.
Biometric Screening and Night Operations
To curb impersonation and improve passenger identity
verification, the council approved a new biometric screening system integrated
with the National Identity Number (NIN) database.
“We’ve had too many cases of passengers travelling
with fake identities. This new technology will allow real-time verification,”
the minister said.
Furthermore, the FEC approved budget allocations for
the installation of runway lighting systems at selected airports to enable
night operations and boost airline profitability.
“Some airports currently shut down by 6 p.m. due to a
lack of illumination. With these new systems, they can now operate until 10 or
11 p.m.,” Keyamo explained.
He urged aviation labour unions to support the
government’s reform initiatives, reaffirming his commitment to workers’ welfare
but cautioning that “labour organisations cannot override executive decisions.”
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