After years of warnings and ultimatums, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Monday began evacuation of abandoned aircraft at the airside of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the development to Business Hilights in Lagos, noted that no fewer than 13 aircraft had been abandoned at the airside by different airlines over the years, despite several warnings issued to them by FAAN.
She said “We have about 13 aircraft abandoned at the airside. On Friday, we moved four aircraft from the airside and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Lagos airport told me again this morning that they are going to move another set of four aircraft.
“We have taken the legal issues into consideration; if you agree with me, these aircraft are not helping us in any way. They are taking up a lot of space. Space for aircraft landing and taking off are being taken by these aircraft.
“The airports belong to FAAN, which means that it is the property of the Federal Government, and there is no airline that is bigger than Nigeria. Nigeria has given them a long time to be able to move their aircraft, and they have refused to do this.
“FAAN is not taking possession of their aircraft; but we are moving them away from where they are to another place within the airport, where they will not serve as an eyesore, and where they will not constitute a nuisance to activities on our airside,” she said.
According to her, owners of aircraft evacuated by the agency on Friday are Associated Air, IRS, Dana Air and Hak Air.
Among others evacuated on Monday belonged to the liquidated carrier, Air Nigeria, Associated Cargo, Bellview, JedAir, Precision Aviation Handling Company and PAC, TopBrass and others.
She explained that the relocation was necessary to give more space for airworthy aircraft to land, take off and manoeuvre as expected during operations at the airside.
The process in her further submission is part of planned drive to give top priority to the safety and comfort of airport users.
