Lekki-Epe airport project: FAAN challenged to be more proactive

Key players have challenged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to up its ante in the area of quality service delivery to airlines and other clients in order not to lose its status with the planned emergence of a second airport in Lagos State.

The Lagos State government has proposed  to deliver the Lekki-Epe International Airport in two years time.

Speaking on the proposed second airport, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile revealed that the Lekki-Epe International Airport is proposed to be completed by 2027. He however, could not give the contractual sum of the project.

Some key players who reacted to the Lagos State airport at Lekki-Epe also, expressed optimism that the coming up of the second airport in the state would complement the existing Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

The completion and use of the Lagos state airport they argued, would ensure seamless transaction of businesses by industries and organisations within the Lekki-Epe axis, while the present high traffic congestion witnessed at the Lagos airport would be eliminated.

In his comments, the Director, Research, Zenith Travel Ltd, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said Lagos needed an additional airport to accelerate growth in the state.

He however, doubted if the proposed airport would operate international flights, maintaining that Lagos State Government required complementary airports to improve traffic into the state that would be beneficial to all airlines, travelers and the economy of the state.

According to Ohunayo, the Lekki-Epe Airport would peak at the low-cost carriers and passengers to the Island, adding that international and scheduled flights would still retain the MMA.

Equally, he said the coming onboard of Gateway Airport at Remo-Ikenne axis, may affect the projection for the new airport in Lagos due to proximity.

“Another fear I am having about Lekki-Epe Airport is that another airport is coming up in Shagamu, which will split the vibrant Ijebu, Ikorodu, Epe travellers. These are airports that springing up within and around Lagos should ginger FAAN to improve its quality of services, cost efficiency, aeronautic project and the choked airside space for aircraft parking.

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“Quality services and cost are the things that will determine what happens to any airport and for any airport to be used by airlines. Luckily, the Lagos State Government is also tying an airline to that airport, which would be owned by the State Government. I look forward to it and I don’t see any threat to FAAN, but FAAN should up its game and ensure that they get more revenue for their services from the airports under their domain”.

On the model of operations, Ohunayo said it was necessary for the government to allow the airport to commence operations first before deliberating on the model to be adopted.