November 15, (THEWILL) – Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation has vowed to conclude the completion of the proposed national carrier, despite a lawsuit initiated by some domestic airline operators in the country.
About eight domestic airlines, on Friday, took the federal government, its foreign technical partner, and majority shareholders to court.
In the suit, the operators listed Nigerian Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as defendants.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ appreciation for the reconstruction of the Lagos airport runway 18L, at the General Aviation Terminal, GAT of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Sirika explained that he does not see the possibility that any court of competent jurisdiction will erect a roadblock to the emergence of the national carrier.
The Minister also insisted that the federal government will continue with the planned demolition of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) headquarters in Lagos, pointing out that what exists at present is only a transit place.
He stated that the demolition must take place because it is good for the people.
Describing the old structures of the agencies as chaotic, Sirika said the ministry will do it better in such a way that it will serve the people.
On the recent light installations at the domestic runway, Sirika explained that the completion of Airfield Lighting (AFL) on Runway 18L/36R of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, has provided closure for three fundamental issues – safety, airport efficiency and efficiency of airlines in cost saving, operation and comfort.
He thanked stakeholders for their patience while the professional team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the contractors delivered on the runway.
Sirika said he landed on Runway 18L/36R, at about 10 pm on Monday, November 14, 2022, maintaining that the runway lighting and other safety components were working perfectly.
According to him, the 2.7 kilometres (2,700m) long runway 18L/36R ‘s approach lights, Runway Lights (Threshold and Centre, edge light and others), were working perfectly and would bring about succour to airline operators in terms of cost savings and comfort to passengers because of its time-saving benefit.
Sirika said the Runway has caused untold hardship in the sector for 14 years and subsequent governments have overlooked this critical infrastructure even to the level that airlines started seeing the abnormality as a norm.
He, however, said the administration has done the needful, as regards this particular procurement”, All that has to be said has been said regarding this particular procurement. It was something that was abandoned some 14 years ago. There were challenges, we had to get the contractor, but we delivered.
“We are focused on safety critical items, security items that passengers don’t see. Nothing concerns the passengers about Very High Omni directional Radio (VOR), Instrument Landing System (ILS) and other safety-critical infrastructure, but those are the particulates for safe air travel.
“The fundamental issues the runway lighting would solve is air safety, the efficiency of the airport and efficiency of the airlines in cost saving, operations and comfort, I am very glad we achieved this”, Sirika said.
Speaking earlier, the Managing director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, recognised the professional job done by a team of FAAN engineers and contractors, stressing that the task was not easy at all.
“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.
The FAAN helmsman also appreciated the Federal Executive Council (FEC), for making it happen and the Minister of Aviation for tirelessly working to get it done.
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.
