Airport chief to make MMIA more welcoming for travellers 

By Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Felix Akinbinu, new regional general manager Southwest, has said that he will ensure that decays at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport MMIA Ikeja are addressed within the shortest possible time in order to give air travellers seamless travel.

Akinbinu, who spoke with aviation reporters in his office at Ikeja, said the issues around the cooling system and toilets will be resolved immediately.

He noted that the age of the airport has contributed to the decay taking place, assuring that this will be corrected, stressing that chillers and other related facilities that will provide passengers comfort will be provided.

According to the airport manager, MMIA, a technical team charged with on the spot assessment of facilities are already identifying areas to be given attention adding that all the shortcomings and inadequacies will be addressed in no time.

“Without being told, there are some visible challenges in the airport, we are capable of tackling them, we are taking assessments and we will address them as soon as possible and at the moment if such is being done, there is no way we would compare how the terminal looks like and the current shape,” he said.

Akinbinu warned touts and those without business at the airport to steer clear as anyone caught will be prosecuted, urging travellers to reduce the number of relatives seeing them off to the airport.

While decrying illegal parking on adjoining roads to the terminal building, he assured of secured and safe airport terminal, ensuring passengers comfort adding that the airport was becoming too small to cope with the traffic.

“Illegal parking is a major challenge, the airport is becoming too small compared to the volume of operations, but nevertheless, we are addressing that and in the course of our expansion we will get to that axis,” he said.

On the poor state of the alternate road between the training school and the MMIA terminal, Akinbinu said a contract for its rehabilitation has been approved and awarded, assuring that work will soon commence.