The Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu said that the agency will implement flight spacing at all it’s airports so as to ensure safety.He stated this over the weekend in Lagos while addressing reporters as he explained that the reason for the flight spacing was to ensure total safety of passengers, airport staff and others within the airport environment and not to disrupt any of the airline schedule.
He said: “We have already told NCAA that we are going to space the flights. No two airlines will depart at the same time from our airports. The spacing is not to make things difficult for the operators, but to protect their staff and other users of our airports.
“It is not going to be unnecessary spacing. Like I told them, it is not a slot, but just spacing of flights.”
Yadudu also revealed plans to increase the capacity at the General Aviation Terminal(GAT) of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by 200%, this will be done with construction of fabricated materials within the facility which he said will be ready soon.
“At GAT, we have also erected a large canopy for people to stay in in case of rain. We also have sanitizers and equipment to test their temperature at the airport and others in the country. Our tap water has sensors to minimize touch.
“We are discussing with some companies to enlarge the GAT with fabricated materials because we don’t have time for concrete work, which may take another five months to complete. The expansion of the GAT will lead to 200 per cent in the hall capacity.”
The FAAN MD also said that about 85 to 90 per cent of the agency’s staff had been trained by World Health Organisation (W/H.O) on operational and response time on Covid-19 pandemic, including 100 per cent of its staff at Owerri Airport.
He reiterated the readiness of FAAN to recommencement of activities in the industry, stressing that all staff had been adequately trained to withstand the new order.
The FAAN boss maintained that the management followed to the letter all the protocols on Covid-19 pandemic and advisory circular from NCAA, adding that the agency increased its performance by increasing the requirements.
He said: “No airport in Nigeria has 100 per cent of its staff trained by W.H.O and Port Health on Covid-19 pandemic, but we achieved that with Owerri Airport. All our staff at Owerri airport are trained 100 per cent with certificates issues. Overall, about 85 to 90 per cent of our staff have been trained and we want to achieve 100 per cent training for all.
Also, Yadudu disclosed that FAAN was installing transparent shields in front all airline counters operating from its terminal in a bid to minimise physical contacts, adding that wearing of face masks and other protocols by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) would be made compulsory.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, Yadudu emphasised that FAAN would open two arrival halls for more convenience of passengers.