Equipment fails at refurbished Lagos airport terminal

November 26, 2012 by OYETUNJI ABIOYE 29 Comments


A month after the refurbished General Aviation Terminal or domestic terminal of the Lagos airport was inaugurated, its effective performance is being hampered by faulty cooling and conveyor systems, OYETUNJI ABIOYE writes.

Over one month after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, opened the remodelled new domestic terminal of the Lagos airport as a measure to relieve the pains experienced by passengers, the multimillion naira facility has yet to be put into normal operation due to technical hitches, investigation by our correspondent has revealed.

The facility, which was opened on October 22, 2012, it was gathered, might not be ready for regular use at least in the next three to four weeks.

According to findings by our correspondent, the cooling system is somehow faulty, while none of the two baggage conveyor belts in the departure and arrival halls is operational, thus restraining the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria from putting the facility into normal use.

More than one month after its inauguration, only arrival passengers were being cleared through the terminal from the facility.

However, pressure from the media was said to have forced FAAN to open the facility for normal use on Friday. But a top FAAN official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak, confirmed that the facility was far from being ready for use.

When our correspondent visited the facility in the afternoon on Sunday, passengers and airline officials were seen sweating under intense heat. Some of the airline officials were seen installing industrial fans to keep the place cool.

It was also observed that the baggage conveyor belts at the departure and arrival halls were not working.

The entire departure and arrival terminal portrayed a picture of dishevelled operations, as checked-in baggage was manually carried from check-in desks to the baggage screening machine by some men.

Some passengers, who spoke to our correspondent, said apart from having a new building, the hardships and pains encountered in the initial make-shift canopies provided before the refurbishment were still being experienced in the new terminal.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the government in a bid to quickly complete and inaugurate the project, had jettisoned the plan to install the standard central cooling system, called chillers and found at airport terminals across the world, in the facility.

Consequently, the split units of air conditioners were later introduced as a hurried measure to finish the project.

According to findings, the development has, however, brought about performance hitches, which have forced FAAN to suspend putting the facility into normal use.

Specifically, it was gathered that about 50 per cent of the split AC units installed inside the terminal in place of the standard central chillers had yet to start working, thus making the arrival and departure halls to be very hot.

The development has been cited as one of the reasons the departure and arrival halls of the terminal were very hot on the day of the inauguration. Our correspondent, who also attended the inauguration ceremony, recalled that standing fans were used to keep the terminal bearable for invited guests during the short programme

However, a top aviation official said the contractors had been working round the clock to ensure that the remaining split air conditioning units become operational, at least, within the next one month.

A source close to the situation said, “The contractor has yet to hand over the GAT facility to FAAN, even though it has been inaugurated. The truth is that there are issues with the cooling system. They are working round the clock to fix it.

“Going by the initial plan, which is the standard thing for an airport terminal facility like this, the new GAT was meant to be installed with normal airport cooling system called chillers. But the plan was altered because the ministry wanted the project to be completed on time.

“The contractors told them that if they wanted the facility to be installed with the chillers, it would take at least two years to complete. This is because it will take time to install the chilling system.

“But because they wanted something they could quickly inaugurate, the government jettisoned that plan and came up with this patch up plan by installing AC units, which are not expected to be seen in a standard airport facility like this.”

FAAN officials told our correspondent that plans were on to also bring in some units of industrial ACs into the terminal to enable flight operations to commence in the new General Aviation Terminal before Christmas.

According to insider sources, the industrial AC units are part of those that FAAN is using under the make-shift canopies being used for flight operations when the new terminal was being constructed.

Industry stakeholders, however, said it would be a disgrace for FAAN to be using industrial AC units in “a modern terminal built for N648m.”

Another hitch facing FAAN over the new GAT facility has to do with the fact that the contractor has ordered for a wrong motor that cannot power the conveyor belts at the departure hall.

Findings revealed that the capacity of the electric motor that should have been ordered from China to power the conveyor belt was 350 volts, whereas the one brought was less than 250 volts.

However, FAAN officials gave an assurance that the right electric motor had been ordered and would arrive in the country in one month.

A similar fate had befallen the Murtala Muhammed Terminal Two built by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services in 2007.

It was alleged that the central chillers at the facility were not effective because of pressure to quickly get it completed and inaugurated in April 2007 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was to leave office in May.

However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the new GAT had been put into partial use.

On why the agency installed packaging AC units instead of the standard central chillers, Dati said, “On the cooling system, the technical experts are exploiting the best options available for the cooling of the Terminal 1. Being a facility of world-class standard, it is pertinent to also install commensurate cooling system befitting of such an edifice.”

On why the departure hall’s conveyor belts were not working, he said, “While it is noteworthy to state that the installation of conveyor belts has been completed, a small but major challenge we are currently facing is that the output capacity of our power supply is higher than what is obtained in the motor of the belts.

“Efforts have been concluded to get a step-down transformer to suit that purpose.”

The FAAN spokesman said the facility would be fully operational before Christmas.

“I wish to reiterate that start-up operational problems are common in construction and gaps discovered are being addressed immediately in conjunction with the contractor, who is still on site,” he added.

http://www.punchng.com/news/faulty-equipment-hampers-refurbished-lagos-airport-terminals-operations/

As usual

See her face

How exactly is the cooling system faulty if it has not been handed over to FAAN by the contractor?

Even if it is not faulty, the people there will fault it! The people in government had better do something drastic about the ridiculous corruption in this country. The system is rotten like putrid bad fish. Its even becoming intolerable, but the mafias of FCT seem to be having fun!

Lol- were the conveyor belts ever functional Got to love NAija!

Oh my goodness...why does she look like someone farted on....seems like she is about to curse somebody...

Kai! This woman reeks of the devil! Her visage clearly shows she a direct descendant of the biblical Jezebel. NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF HER TENURE. Mark my words.

We should really start demanding more of our leaders. Who is accountable Is it that funds were not adequately disbursed or the contractor supplied substandard material? Last time I was out of naija everything was smooth sailing until we got back to MM airport, it was this faulty conveyor belt thing that first jolted us back to our senses that we're back in naija.

4chi: Kai! This woman reeks of the devil! Her visage clearly shows she a direct descendant of the biblical Jezebel. NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF HER TENURE. Mark my words.

Dude...this is someone's mother.

geez*:
As usual

See her face

Witch eyes

Kai,corruption don finish naija... Haba,una dey theif our money,dat no satisfy una.. Una con begin thief inside the money wey dem suppose use do public work again.. Haba,dis is too much for me to bear...
It's like GOD deliberately sent me to this time/generation of Nigerian leaders to pay for the sins i committed in my past life...

We ve bin so surpreSsd in dis country dat weneva d govt gives peanut,we c it as all we deserve.I remember wen dis project was comissiond,a lot of peeps on dis forum were full of praises.they don't know wat they desav,we desav notin bt d best in dis country,cos Nig is rich.refurbishin an airport ,d other shuddy project in 2 yrs is poor,compared 2 d money made by m
dis country.

Ehmm? But from the story sha it is like some facilities- eg conveyor belt and cooling system- have not be completed and handed over by the contractors because Faan wanted to start using the new terminal instead of that yeye refugee tent they packed people in previously, not that the facilities broke down or are faulty. But why did faan not wait for 2 years so that a central chilling system can be installed as planned, they are making the same mistake Bi-courtney made? If its because of time and the tent, cant the contractor be given a year to install the chillers as we manage the AC for now? Any faan person in tha house?hahaha

I see a lot of attempts been made to discredit this mrs stella oduah! (The minister of aviation)... I flew in from enugu today and I had a lot of luggage..... The conveyor belt is working perfectly and the Ac is really cool... The rehabilitation of enugu airport is being taken seriously and at a fast pace too....

Nawaaaao for this reporter.

Fresh air yo!

Someone summarize this pls

has the Minister changed her 'aka nchawa' ringtone?
remember how it interrupted the press conference after the unfortunate plane crash.

was this not the same terminal that some Nairaland fools were celebrating a few weeks ago and insulting folks for not joining the celebration of d mirage?

all those gej morons will disappear from this thread as usual.


see one mumu above say the ac cool well well, do u realise that article has direct quotes from powers that be about the state of affairs of the terminal, abi you think its ekene dili chukwu terminal that is being discussed?


anyway the prayer for all gej lovers is simple, may your lives be run like gej's government is running Nigeria. chikena

Nairaland banned dridowu for trolling. Derailing a thread by posting comment position. Ban expires by Nov 26, 2012 02:05:04pm.
Atlast am free from banned since 2wks ago. Alingo on ma mind

They always rush to commission uncompleted projects. We are not yet serious.
Only God can save this country

You chop I chop. I no understand o. So under this administration, federal government projects are not being monitored by anyone to ensure they meet contract specification.

I'm not even surprised. Jonathan can not even manage the property that affects his daily life and we are talking of a delegated maintenance.

From 1999 to Yar adua administration, the FEC meeting room was cooled by a central unit. Not for once did I see a floor standing unit. Take a look at the place now, there are floor standing units everywhere.

Even to build a proper hospital in aso rock is a big challenge, knowing fully well thay is the first place he or any member of the first family will be rushed to before eventual transfer to Germany.

I really can't hate GEJ but come 2015, he should step aside. Its not like he is a bad person but he is weak and not of a sound mind. His aides know this and exploit it with impunity. Its such a shame.

sun_temi: Someone summarize this pls

Okay. The article said they just killed Shekau and the four boko shura council members who were trying to escape to pakistan through the lagos airport. Thank me later o

4llerbuntu: was this not the same terminal that some Nairaland fools were celebrating a few weeks ago and insulting folks for not joining the celebration of d mirage?

all those gej morons will disappear from this thread as usual.


see one mumu above say the ac cool well well, do u realise that article has direct quotes from powers that be about the state of affairs of the terminal, abi you think its ekene dili chukwu terminal that is being discussed?


anyway the prayer for all gej lovers is simple, may your lives be run like gej's government is running Nigeria. chikena

Powers that are anonymous right Ever since she was accused of tribalism; I knew her tenure was gonna be stormy!
She is converting enugu airport to international airport man!
This b itch is the best avia

Frank-C:
How exactly is the cooling system faulty if it has not been handed over to FAAN by the contractor?

I tire o...

Kslib: Kai,corruption don finish naija... Haba,una dey theif our money,dat no satisfy una.. Una con begin thief inside the money wey dem suppose use do public work again.. Haba,dis is too much for me to bear...
It's like GOD deliberately sent me to this time/generation of Nigerian leaders to pay for the sins i committed in my past life...

Guy which sin you commit before na, I beg start the confession. :

tunapar: 4th to comment

When will you guys stop this?? Were you given a cheque for it? Abeg go and sleep. You have recharge cards to sell in the morning.

blink182: You chop I chop. I no understand o. So under this administration, federal government projects are not being monitored by anyone to ensure they meet contract specification.

I'm not even surprised. Jonathan can not even manage the property that affects his daily life and we are talking of a delegated maintenance.

From 1999 to Yar adua administration, the FEC meeting room was cooled by a central unit. Not for once did I see a floor standing unit. Take a look at the place now, there are floor standing units everywhere.

Even to build a proper hospital in aso rock is a big challenge, knowing fully well thay is the first place he or any member of the first family will be rushed to before eventual transfer to Germany.

I really can't hate GEJ but come 2015, he should step aside. Its not like he is a bad person but he is weak and not of a sound mind. His aides know this and exploit it with impunity. Its such a shame.

was the aviation sector not in its lowest ebb during the OBJ era?
Was OBJ not a Goliath?
Mscheww!

solomon111: was the aviation sector not in its lowest ebb during the OBJ era?
Was OBJ not a Goliath?
Mscheww!

lol, agreed but obasanjo was dexterious at whatever he did, be it seeing a project through, pdp meeting or outright marooning of a sector, the man did it with dexterity and not as a slob.