The minister of aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, on Tuesday, said, the Runway 18L/36R of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos has caused untold hardship in the sector for 14 years.
The minister made this known at the protocol lounge of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos and appreciated stakeholders for their patience while the professional team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the contractors delivered on the runway.
According to the minister, subsequent governments have overlooked the critical infrastructure to the level that airlines are accruing loses over the runway.
The minister, however, stated that, he landed on runway 18L/36R at about 10pm on Monday, November 14, 2022 and maintained that the runway lighting and other safety components were working perfectly.
According to him, “The 2.7 km long runway 18L/36R ‘s approach lights, Runway Lights (Threshold and Centre, edge light and others were working perfectly and would bring about succour to airline operators in terms of cost saving and comfort to passengers because of its time saving benefit.”
Sirika said the runway has caused untold hardship in the sector for 14 years and subsequent governments have overlooked this critical infrastructure even to the level that airlines started seeing the abnormal as a norm.
He, however, said, his administration has done the needful regarding this particular procurement.
“All that has to be said has been said regarding this particular procurement. It was something that was abandoned some 14 years ago. There were challenges, we had to ger the contractor, but we delivered.
“We are focused on safety critical items, security items that passengers don’t see. Nothing concerns the passengers about Very High Omni directional Radio (VOR), Instrument Landing System (ILS) and other safety critical infrastructure but those are the particulates for safe air travel.
“The fundamental issues the runway lighting would solve is air safety, efficiency of the airport and efficiency of the airlines in cost saving, operations and comfort, I am very glad we achieved this,” Sirika said.
Speaking earlier, managing director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, recognised the professional job done by a team of FAAN engineers and the contractors, stressing that, the task was not easy at all.
“It was a very difficult task but we delivered a very critical milestone, achievements come and go buy none comes bigger and better than the lighting of the MMA Runway 18L/36R.
“Over the 14 years minimum the lack of AFL compromised security, efficiency and affected 24/7 operations. As a pilot, I have never landed on Runway 18L/36R after sunset and I have been a pilot for over two decades,” he said.
