The new international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja Lagos has become a behive of activities following the relocation of all airlines from the old domestic terminal as a result of the recent fire incident at the airport.
When Nigerian Franknews in company of other Journalists visited the terminal, flight operations and airport facilities were going on normal with Air Peace, TAAG Angola, Air Cote d’Ivoire, Air Maroc, Qatar Air have operated their flight from the terminal.
Although outside the airport, meeters and greeters in their large numbers can be seen waiting outside the terminal.
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Speaking on the relocation and the confusion that characterised the relocation earlier, Mrs Ojali Fatusi, general manager international, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja stated that though it was a bit more difficult two days ago, but better yesterday was and today.
Ojali while stating that the situation has really improved as everything is under control, add3d that they did not expect that the relocation would be so sudden, 3v3n though they were preparing.
It was a bit more difficult two days ago, yesterday was better and today has really improved and we are having everything under control.
She said : “All the facilities are installed to full capacity. The challenge we are having is that the people who were moved from the old terminal are not used to the facilities here. The once we have here are automatic. We needed to have trained them before they start making use of the facilities. We are still in the process and we are talking to the handlers so that they can get their supervisors trained on how to use the facilities we have here appropriately.
We don’t have problems with our screening machines and they are working optimally”.
On the crowd outside, Ojali pointed out that a lot of the people outside who
are more than the travellers
are not actually travelling, but are mixing up with the travllers.
According to her, “If you go outside now, the non-travelling people are being moved further away from the terminal so that we can attend to the passengers that are travelling. Also, we will give the old concessionaires priority over the new ones that is the directive of the Ninister”.
The GM disclosed that terminal can occupy about 39,000 users daily which is the estimate from the original design
Commenting on the relocation and the situation at the new terminal, Ayodele Sunday, Airport Manager, MMA and Regional Manager, South West Airport of FAAN explained that that the Authority planned the movement, but in phases, noting that the unftunate incident that occurred now forced them to now move everyone.
Ayodele used the opportunity to apologise to the travelling public and the airlines for the inconvineincies they have been going through in the last few days.
He said: “But, it is something that we must do and people must move. We know the passengers are passing through some inconviniences, but we want to also advise the passengers that it is only them that would be allowed into the terminal building. Those that come with meeters and greeters should tell their family members not to come in. They need to do their facilitations alone in the terminal building so that we can have seamless facilitation.
Everybody is here now. This facility has been underutilized before now. The facility can process passengers of at least 10 airlines at a ago. And remember, they don’t come at a time”.
