September 03, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian aviation industry has long suffered from inadequate infrastructure, poor management, corruption, and inadequate funding. However, the newly appointed Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, seems determined to turn things around with bold and decisive actions.
Keyamo has hit the ground running since he assumed office. His first major action was the resolution of unresolved issues around the payment of compensation to the FCT community where the runway will be located. His next move was the announcement of the closure of the embarrassing Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s old terminal by October 1, 2023. According to the Minister, the terminal, which was built in the late 1970s, will be remodelled under a public private partnership arrangement.
The dilapidated state of the old Lagos terminal is just one of the many issues plaguing the aviation sector. Most Nigerian airports lag far behind their African and global counterparts in terms of infrastructure and service delivery.
According to Keyamo, the new Chinese-built terminal at the international airport will commence full operations on October 1. The new airport, which has all the modern facilities befitting a modern international airport, will be put to use, despite the issue with lack of parking for wide-body aircraft. A bus will have to move passengers to and from the aircraft to the terminal until the two hangers obstructing the easy passage of wide body aircraft are demolished.
Infrastructure troubles are just one piece of the puzzle holding down the aviation sector. The industry also faces acute financial difficulties. Keyamo moved swiftly to tackle this by halting the controversial concession of airports over allegations of corrupt dealings. He also suspended Nigeria Air, the proposed new national carrier, due to concerns over transparency.
Revenue generation is another pressing challenge. Keyamo directed airport officials to urgently identify and recover debts owed by airlines, concessionaires, and other stakeholders. Strategies to boost income from non-aeronautical sources at airports are also underway.
For the sector to truly turn around, these actions must translate into tangible change on the ground. Keyamo’s extensive administrative experience equips him well for the unenviable task. As a lawyer, rights activist and advocate for good governance, he has shown tenacity in confronting Nigeria’s systemic challenges head-on. His predecessors struggled to deliver substantive reforms, but, bold and assertive, he seems determined to make his mark with just a few days on the job. His strong start of probing dubious concessions, recovering debts, and suspending questionable projects has been widely received with optimism.
Critics, however, question Keyamo’s technical expertise in aviation matters. While he has passed the first test of tackling corruption, decay and improving finances, the biggest challenge lies in executing a complete overhaul of airport infrastructure and airspace management.
Keyamo will have to lean heavily on technical experts in aviation, engineering and administration, while ensuring transparency and efficiency. He has already reached out to industry stakeholders, promising to implement their constructive ideas. For decay that has taken years to fester, bringing sanity to the system will be daunting.
The sorry state of Nigerian airports and airlines is all too familiar to both local and international travellers who endure shabby facilities, inconsistent flight schedules and poor service. I recall a major issue when the check-in system at MMIA shut down due to contractual disputes with Societe International Telecommunication Aeronautiques (SITA) in 2021, affecting airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. Despite efforts to resolve this, passenger facilitation worsened as a new service provider struggled to take over.
This situation resulted in sub-optimal airport usage and revenue loss. The government lacked resources for upgrades, perpetuating the problem. This is the legacy of decades of government mismanagement, neglect and corruption.
Nigeria’s federal airports are currently operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which has struggled under the weight of graft, mismanagement, decrepit and overstretched infrastructure. Regular complaints of disorder, long queues, faulty conveyor belts, and decommissioned aircraft on airport grounds are symptoms of systemic failings.
The situation became especially dire during Nigeria’s recession, when a forex crisis made it difficult for airlines to repatriate earnings and to procure spare parts. Some airlines collapsed while others scaled back operations. Safety has also been a cause for concern, with Nigeria falling short of ICAO standards.
Previous government efforts at reform were hampered by delays in decision-making and execution as well as allegations of self-enrichment. The culture of corruption and lack of accountability has bled the aviation sector dry over successive administrations.
Alongside dilapidated infrastructure, air navigation equipment shortages have also affected efficiency and safety. Technologies taken for granted elsewhere, like instrument landing systems, are scarce in Nigeria, with less than a quarter of airports having basic navigational aids. We have been inundated with viral images and videos of animals grazing at airports overrun by weeds, stowaways only identified after flights and even terrorists taking over airport runways on bikes.
For Keyamo to achieve substantive reforms within his four-year term would be a remarkable feat. It would, however, be a major boon for local and international air connectivity and help unleash the sector’s full economic potential. His first moves have already been bold measures aimed at turning things around. Barely two weeks into the role, he has ruffled feathers by tackling the cosy relationship between regulators and private sector players.
While commendable, Keyamo needs to back up this strong start with comprehensive viable policies and a path to reform. Effective policy implementation will be crucial, as things tend to fall apart at that stage in Nigeria. His success will depend on tackling some structural issues holding back progress. A key factor is the problematic ownership structure of airports under the FAAN umbrella. An absence of autonomy and performance management has led to stagnation. Nigeria will need to move towards the airport authority model used in places like Dubai and Singapore. We have the market, but airports management just has to be right.
Funding has been another perennial hurdle. Although the sector contributes billions annually, only a fraction has filtered back as investments. Keyamo will need to work closely with finance and budget officials to channel more public funding and attract private investors. Airport infrastructure upgrades to meet operational and security standards will be essential for Keyamo to build a legacy. This includes new terminals, extending runways for big aircraft, improving airfield lighting, parking and cargo facilities.
Modernising aging air navigation infrastructure is also important for efficiency. Needed upgrades involve installing modern communication and surveillance systems. Keyamo can tap budgetary provisions and loans from bodies like AfDB dedicated to improving air navigation services.
Perhaps the most crucial task for Keyamo will be changing the culture of mismanagement and corruption. Critically reviewing concessions and contracts awarded by past administrations is an important first step already underway. However, transparency and accountability must be systematically strengthened. This may involve revisiting how appointments are made to bodies like FAAN, NAMA and NCAA to ensure professionalism and competence.
The practice of using such agencies as dumping grounds for political patronage must end. Only fit and proper persons should be hired in the sector.
Despite the challenges, Keyamo is better positioned than predecessors given his firm anti-corruption stance. But he will need steadfast support from the Presidency and all relevant stakeholders to withstand internal resistance and vested interests.
With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu having declared improving infrastructure a priority in his government, Keyamo has a golden opportunity to reform the sector. The aviation ministry post will allow him to put his formidable work ethic and skills to use in service of national development.
Ultimately, the scale of the challenge at hand is enormous. But for the first time in years, there is a glimmer of hope about Nigerian airports getting on par with the likes of Ethiopia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow. By moving decisively to untangle structural problems and confront mismanagement, Keyamo has given the sector a fighting chance. What is left is to up the ante, stay on course and see it to the end. If anyone can, it will be the indomitable Keyamo.
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