the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos now go through
difficult times as one of the two conveyor belts has stopped functioning, just
as the air conditioners installed at strategic areas of the arrival wing have
collapsed.
Consequently, Daily Independent learnt that passengers now spend more time to
retrieve their luggage on arrival.
The collapsed air conditioners have equally created a lot of embarrassment for
arriving passengers while awaiting clearance by the Nigerian Immigration
Service (NIS).
Daily Independent learnt that passengers who arrived at the airport between
Wednesday and Thursday could not claim their luggage at the D Finger.
It was gathered that many foreign airlines and their ground handling agents had
to divert all luggage to the E Finger.
But the diversion did not yield any fruitful result, as it created further
delay for arriving passengers, who had to use just one conveyor belt that was
said to be working epileptically.
Affected foreign airlines included British Airways, Delta and United
Continental airlines
“It is pathetic that D finger conveyor belt has not been working since
Wednesday. In fact, it has packed up completely and E finger is the only one
being used by the airlines now for passengers to reclaim their luggage. The
passengers are complaining seriously of the uncomfortable environment and some
of them spend close to two hours before they could reclaim their luggage. I
think our management (FAAN) should do something about this sordid situation,”
one of our sources said.
On the several air conditioners placed on the wall at the airport, the source
said that most of them are working abnormally and others have collapsed.
He added that as a result, officials of the NIS at the airport have been using
standing fans, adding that the only solution is the installation of central air
conditioners.
According to him, “It is unfortunate that all the air conditioners at the
airport have not been working for days now. There are no central air
conditioners at the airport and the ones hanged on the wall are not enough for
the users of the airport.
“The excuse they have been giving us is that they are doing remodelling
exercise, which to some of us is not tenable. Remodelling does not say we
should not have central air conditioners at the airport and even, some of the
facilities being installed at the moment are inferior to the ones removed. This
is very glaring to all at the airport.”
The General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati confirmed that the conveyor belts have been having some
challenges.
technicians are already working on it.
He assured that on completion of the exercise, passengers would have seamless
travelling experience within the airport.
According to him, “It is only one that collapsed but the technicians are
already working on it”.
Meanwhile, FAAN has commenced the dismantling of abandoned aircraft from Lagos
airport.
Speaking to journalists, the logistic officer, AAyu Steel Nigeria Limited,
Bashir Aruna, said that the abandoned planes will be dismantled and that the
parts will be taken to a recycling company.
He explained that it will take two to three days to dismantle a big aircraft.
FAAN had given owners of abandoned aircraft one week to remove them or get them
evacuated by FAAN.
There are about 15 abandoned airplanes at Lagos airport.
