Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, met with the management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ahead of Saturday’s re-opening of airspace for international flights.
The international flights were expected to resume last Saturday before it was shifted to Saturday as authorities fine tune protocols and measures for seamless restart.
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This was why FAAN Managing Director, Rabiu Yadudu and the governor met to appraise actionable steps being put in place at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Yadudu sought the support of the governor in ensuring smooth safety compliance as the airport prepares to re-open for commercial activities.
He also requested the provision of BRT buses to commute passengers from the car park to departure and arrival halls, expansion of strategic airport roads, and halting of encroachment on the airport land around Ajao Estate and Shasha, among others.
The governor promised further engagements with Aviation Minister on ways to resolve other issues around the Lagos airport.
Sanwo-Olu said officials of the state government had been working round the clock with the Federal Government to initiate safety protocols in place at the airport and drive compliance.
The effort, he said, would be followed by a joint assessment of the airport facility with FAAN and other agencies.
The governor said the government had embarked on projects to ensure travelers had better experience; while passing through the airport, disclosing that the state had already started the construction of a world-class bus terminal close to the airport.
The bus terminal, the governor said, would serve as holding station for international passengers who would not be driving into the airport.
He said the bus station would be complemented with rail infrastructure to shuttle air passengers from the metropolis departure terminals.
He further charged the FAAN management on the remodeling of the airport’s facilities to become a hub of business and tourism.
He said some of the facilities installed in the airport at inception were due for modernisation and upgrading.