Nigerian Airports’
Rating Improves
Qasim Akinreti, Lagos
Nigeria’s
aviation rating has improved by two steps following increased
passengers’ traffic and improved infrastructure facilities at
its various airports.
According to a report by the Regional Secretariat on African
Airports Industry for the Year 2008, released in December last
year, passenger traffic stood at five point one million as
against four point four million in 2007.
The report placed Johannesburg airport as the highest, with a
passenger volume of 18.6 million, followed by Cairo with 14.3
million and Casablanca airport with 6.2 Million passengers.
’’In Africa, the year 2007 was very prosperous. Many airports
recorded positive growth. 2008 was equally positive for all
African airports but from mid 2008, the trend reversed in
response too the economic crisis. The peak declines were months
of January and March 2009.’’ The report showed.
It forecasts a 5.1 per cent increase in passenger traffic
in 2010 as economic fortunes improve from global recession of
2009.
Clean Bill
Spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,
Mr. Akin Olukunle, who was asked to comment on the report, said
the increase in passenger volume was due to the clean bid of
health issued to the airports by the International Civil
Aviation Organization, ICAO and the infrastructural improvement
provided by the Nigerian government.
Mr. Olukunle said the passengers traffic is also expected to
increase this year, with the adequate security at the airports.
Commendation
Reacting to the new security checks at airports, air passengers
and operators commended the initiative and the airport
authorities for rising up to the challenges of terrorism.
More hand scanners have been deployed for use to boost security
and thorough body searches are done at the international
airports in Nigeria.
The 3D Full Body scanners have been procured as demanded by the
US government.
Francis Ayigbe, the Manager for Public Communications told Voice
of Nigeria that the new and improved facilities and security
measures were aimed at boosting the international community’s
confidence in Nigerian airports as well as demonstrate her
resolve to fight against terrorism.
Yinka
