Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said the completion of Airfield Lighting (AFL) on Runway 18L/36R of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos would improve safety, airport efficiency and efficiency of airlines.
According to him, many airlines would save cost while passengers would experience greater comfort.
Sirika stated this at the Protocol Lounge of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos even as he appreciated stakeholders for their patience in the last 14 years.
This followed the completion of the installation on the 2.7-kilometre 18L/ 36R runway which was recommissioned in 2008 after refurbishment and rehabilitation but without AFL which allows aircraft to take off and land at nights while arriving flights had been landing at the international runway anytime from sunset.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had shut down the runway on July 7, 2022 for 90 days to install the equipment comprising approach lights, Runway Lights (Threshold and Centre, edge light and others so that it can return to full 24/7 operations.
However, after three months and three days, the runway has been reopened even as Sirika said he landed on the runway at 10pm on Monday, November 14, 2022, saying the runway lighting and other safety components were working perfectly.
“The fundamental issues the runway lighting would solve is air safety, efficiency of the airport and efficiency of the airlines in cost saving, operations and comfort, I am very glad we achieved this.”
Speaking earlier, Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu stated that delivering the project was a difficult task for the authority.
He said, “It was a very difficult task but we delivered a very critical milestone. Achievements come and go but none comes bigger and better than the lighting of the MMA Runway 18L/36R.
“Over the 14 years minimum the lack of AFL compromised security, efficiency and affected 24/7 operations. As a pilot, I have never landed on Runway 18L/36R after sunset and I have been a pilot for over two decades,” he said.
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