March 13, (THEWILL) – The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has announced that international runways 18R and 36L, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos would be shut for repairs.
Disclosing the new development, FAAN, in a statement issued on Monday, stated that the runway will be closed for 8 weeks for maintenance.
According to the agency, taxiway B-18L will be used instead for all flight operations until the maintenance is done.
Late last year, FG restored airfield lighting on the Runway 18L of the MMA.
The critical infrastructure had been in a blackout in the last 14 years and an operational nightmare for night operations in and out of the domestic terminal.
It will be recalled that the Runway 18L/36R that services the local airport was in 2008 rehabilitated but without provision for airfield lighting.
Without runway lighting for night operations, the runway is shut at sunset, forcing the domestic terminal and airlines to wind down operations at dusk.
At nightfall (from 6 p.m.), the alternative is for all Lagos-bound domestic carriers to divert to the international section (Runway 18R), and be made to taxi about four kilometres back to the domestic terminal, which costs extra fuel, flight congestion and disruptions.
Over a year ago, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) began the repair work and it reopened to flight operations late last year, following successful rehabilitation.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
