The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has restated it’s readiness to  handle the expected 30 millions passengers traffic at the completion of works at the international airport terminal building in Lagos.

Speaking to aviation correspondents in his office on the activities of the agency on traffic management before and after the yuletide period, the general manager corporate communications, Mr Yakubu Dati said except for the Turkish airline’s passengers breach that it was a hitch and seamless passengers facilitation.

Dati revealed that FAAN security operatives and other security agencies deployed detective machines such as screening machine, CCTV, full body scanners and personal intelligence to help ensure easy facilitation of passengers.

He expressed optimism that a more safe and secured airport will be in place this year when the new terminals under construction will be completed and passengers will have that experience they always enjoy outside the shores. 

According to him: “With the completion of the new terminal in Lagos, the terminal will be able to process  additional 15 million passengers which means we will able to service about 30 million passengers. All these are things put together to raise aviation to a new level this year.”

Dati said security has been repositioned across the airports with a view to meeting the challenges ahead, adding that FAAN was looking forward to partnering with investors as a result of dwindling resources in line with the minister’s statement.

He appealed to FAAN concessionaires especially airlines to pay their debts to agencies in order to enable them to continue rendering services to them.

On the preparations for the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO audit in March, Dati revealed that what looked like a mock exercise towards the audit was conducted by the Airport Council International ACI team during their visit on invitation by the managing director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma.

Dati explained that the ACI team during their visit to facilities at the airport identified some open areas that will be closed before the audit date.

He added that the country will scale through and was doing everything possible to ensure that the country will not disappoint Dr Bernard Aliu as a Nigerian and as the ICAO president.

On the certification of airports in the country, Dati said a team was working round the clock with other agencies to ensure that all gaps were closed.

While advising airport users especially passengers not leave any luggage behind as any unattended luggage will be destroyed, Dati further warned passengers to adhere strictly to airport rules and regulations and not to carry any luggage not belonging to them.

He commended the minister’s for their visits to the airports to acquaint themselves with facilities on ground with a view to addressing lapses.

FAAN presently handle 15 million passengers but has projected an additional traffic of 15million this year with the completion of the terminal in Lagos.