FAAN Explains Crowding Of Cargo Terminal

The Federal Airports Au
thority of Nigeria (FAAN), has explained that the stretching of airport facilities at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was caused by the airlifting of hundreds of Nigerians for this year’s Hajj and the ongoing construction to expand the terminal.
The agency denied the allegation that facilities at the terminal were in deplorable condition, explaining that they were overstretched because many travellers have access to the toilet and other facilities.
The agency said its management has directed that the terminal be evacuated and cleaned immediately after each flight with the pilgrims has taken off.
FAAN said in a statement made available to newsmen that the toilet system at the terminal was over-stretched after each flight.
According to the statement, every year the cargo/Hajj terminal is crowed due to Hajj operation, stressing that in recognition of the high number of intending pilgrims, the agency had built 39 toilets and provided other facilities to ease the activities of the passengers but admitted that at peak hours the facilities could be overstretched.
“There is no doubt that the 39 toilet facilities provided at the terminal could be overstretched when used by an average of 500 pilgrims per flight for about two weeks, but it was uncharitable to say that these toilet facilities were not cleaned throughout this period,” FAAN said.
It noted that relevant government agencies responsible for the airlift and welfare of pilgrims, such as National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), could not have turned blind eye to such a dangerous situation if it were actually deplorable as claimed.
“We question the veracity of this claim because individual pilgrims can only approach “the terminal authority” with such complaints through official of NAHCON or other relevant agencies who have unfettered access to officials of FAAN, some of whom are specially posted during Hajj operations to facilitate efficient service delivery, including a clean secure and safe environment at the Hajj Terminal during this period,” the agency stated.
However, FAAN assured all intending pilgrims and the general public that the authority has put necessary machinery in place to ensure that all Hajj terminals across the country, are safe, secure and in good hygienic condition to effectively handle Hajj operations.
“We, therefore consider any talk of impending outbreak of epidemic at any of our Hajj terminal as not only misleading but also malicious,” the agency added.

Stories by Felix Okogbule

An accident scene at Airport Road in Abuja recently