For 30 years, this gateway to the country has been a national embarrassment. My question is, why did the Government wait this long? Were previous Governments also clueless?
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-airport-gets-spruced-up-for-enhanced-travel-experience/145782/

Since the demise of Nigeria Airways, everything good about the Airport went with it.

For three decades, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)has been Nigeria’s major airport, generating more revenue than others and boasting the highest passenger traffic in the country.

However, the airport was driven to rack-and-ruin after years of neglect with overstretched facilities, but it’s now undergone an overhaul, which has led to a remarkable comeback reports Adeola Akinremi

It doesn’t matter the beautiful memories of the cities you have flown into; a descent into Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos will wipe off such good memories. The enduring hours of waiting in the baggage area at the mouth of a 30-year-old slow-motion carousel; the terrible smell from the sweats of arriving passengers for lack of good air conditioning at the airport; the wagging movement of the trolleys that appear old and recycled; the slow pace of work by immigration officers that makes the queue longer than necessary; the occasional harassment suffer by air travellers in the hands of custom officers and the clumsy car hire system at the airport, all combined to give passengers awful experience at MMIA.

A few meters away from the airport, the lack of automated toll-gate means another nightmare to get out of the airport area as motorists attempt payment at the toll-gate in a manual way. And for passengers arriving MMIA in the dead of the night, sleeping on a bare flooris inevitable without a single hotel within the airport area to at least take care of the passengers in transit.

But these days, air travellers at MMIA have become familiar with a notable signboard in every part of the airport. It simply reads: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is sorry for your inconvenience; we are working to ensure the transformation of the MMIA.”

Rajendran vijmayu, a 45-year-old Indian who travels frequently through the MMIA confirms it.

He says: “Yes, we experience inconvenience, but not as much. I understand the government is seeking a terminal bliss here that everyone can be proud of in the end. That is a normal thing everywhere and the messages on the walls indicating that rehabilitation and reconstruction is on-going with appeal to passengers mean you have a customer-friendly airport.”

He adds: “It is also good that operations are not shut down, but there is always that need to speed up because air travellers are always looking for comfort.”

True, a new experience awaits air travellers at MMIA. The airport is currently being expanded to include the ‘D’ wing which had been abandoned for years just as the ‘E’ wing which has been used for several years to serve passengers of the British Airways in mostcases is changing face as well with an extension that will make it accommodate eateries, pharmacy and shopping centres.
It is now clear that before moving on to the car park, airline passengers on arrival can enjoy richer choice of retail opportunities.

This innovative model will afford passengers a journey through stores for one last shopping experience with relaxation while waiting for pick-up. The terminal will have enough space for many shopping outlets, including duty free shops of international standard.

For many, the transformation of MMIA has been long overdue since the size of the airport has become too small for the number of air travellers journeying through it.

A frequent traveller, Joan Osawero says: “Coming out of MMIA you would think you just landed outside an open market; there are guys chasing you to change your dollars or someone trying to 'help' you with your bag to the car and the car park is so dark at night with hawkers and commercial buses going up and down. It has always been a scary place to be at night. Now to see the changes taking place is a delight. I am particularly happy that all those shouting dollars, dollars outside are no more around.
Of course this transformation has been overdue. I wish someone had taken this step in the past, perhaps the airport would have been better than what it is now.”

Besides the expansion of the airport to include the “D” wing, a set of new baggage carousels with variable speed required for modern aviation business are now installed at the airport. For instance, there are three new carousels installed at “E” wing with a projection of similar installation for other existing wings and the new “D” wing when completed.

The three huge baggage conveyors have the capacity to handle a total of six arrival flights at the same time.

Before now, baggage at the airport are passed through a longer route before arriving at the carousel, which means passengers must wait more hours on arrival. But the new design offers faster routes that will ensure baggage are waiting to be picked by passengers without the passengers having to wait at the baggage claim area in frustration looking for their luggage.

The terminal will have a total of 24 immigration counters and 20 security screening points which would enhance passenger facilitation at the terminal.

The new figures more than double the existing immigration counters and screening points at the terminal.

The trend line which will also see the toll-gate at the airport become automated in a few months with changes to its road networks from the current two lanes to four lanes will facilitates the construction of a 19-room hotel at the topmost level of the MMIA to serve the passengers in transit.

But for the big piece of the transformation work at the airport, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s General Manager for Coorporate Communications, Yakubu Datti says, “We will be doing much more in the coming weeks at the MMIA to ensure greater comfort for air travellers.

Travellers are getting savvier and want more than just to get from A to B. They want an airport that offers more than check-in-counters and boarding pass; they want to get stuck and spend money. Our airports need to become a destination in itself, a place worthy of stopping off for a while for a little shopping and pampering.

That is the global phenomenon and we have showcased that in the remodelled GAT and other domestic terminals. We are looking forward to an impressive change at Murtala Mohammed International Airports too.”

He adds: “As summer holiday makers are buying tickets getting prepared for their travels, we are also planning to make such journey through our airports, especially the MMIA a memorable journey. We have accomplished some and we are at the final stage of some just as some work will start soon. For example, passengers departing MMIA will no longer use the same route as passengers arriving into the country.

“We want to ensure there is no rowdiness and we also take into account security issues. There are now two departure areas located at the top level with provision for escalator and ramp.”

To be sure, designated routes for departing passengers have been created and currently undergoing construction. The new routes used to house air conditioners serving the airport.

In a sense, Datti believes more space and improved passenger flow with the aim of saving time and improving the passenger experience that is now a major preoccupation of FAAN will make the transformation pay off.

According to him, it is the actualisation of the roadmap envisioned by the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah for a revamp of the aviation sector that is changing the landscape at different airports across the country.

The big piece for MMIA he says would be “the temporary relocation of the current car park to make way for a modern automated car park and a 5 star hotel to be built soon.”

While conducting journalists on a facility tour of the MMIA, Datti says: “The temporary car park will be around the non-denominational church within the airport which is about 100 meters away from the current car park. The new place will be prepared to provide comfort.”

Datti knows what pains travellers will bear as well when a car park is far away from the arrival hall, he says, “FAAN knows it will not be convenient, so we will appeal for understanding and support of the air travellers and other members of the public using the airport at this time.”

“We have arranged for shuttle buses that would carry passengers on arrival once they clear from immigration and pick up their luggage and come out of the airport.

We also know that Tuesdays and Thursdays are known to be peak period at MMIA in terms of passengers’ arrival and we will provide adequate shuttle buses at no cost to assist passengers get to the temporary car park nearby.”

The proposed multi-storey car park will take between 3000 and 5000 cars when completed and the hotel will have international conference centre within it for a rich airport experience for business travellers.

Indeed, business travellers are concerned these days where they have their layovers and perhaps that is one motivation for the new wave of smart airports around the world.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-airport-gets-spruced-up-for-enhanced-travel-experience/145782/

Very good development. Before the end of this year, ACN/CPC e-cockroaches would have been so bamboozled that they'll be visiting NL as GUEST. And by the middle of next year, those who criticise the govt in the open will be lynched by the public.

rejoice not yet. let us pray and see it done first. the fact that other did not do it does not meant you too should not do it and that is why you are elected to make a diffrence you are not doing us any favour