The Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika has inaugurated a N2.2 billion first phase expansion of the General Aviation Terminal One and cargo terminal at the Lagos airport.
The new facilities are to enhance the seamless facilitation of export produce and passengers.
The projects were conceived to address the decades-long limited capacity challenge of the terminal and because of the increase in passenger volume the facilities available have been overwhelmed at this terminal.
Despite efforts of the government at some point the capacity limitation still persisted.
The Former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu in whose tenure the project was started said, the projects were executed in two years to accommodate more passengers.
“This place used to house 250 passengers in the whole of this GAT, right now, it is constructed and designed and ready for a 1,540”.
According to the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, the federal government decided to expand the terminal, as a short term measure to address the situation and with the intention to build a new and much bigger domestic terminal in the nearest future.
“The focus of the Buhari government is the safety and security and more robust passenger facilitation which speaks to efficiency and the facility we are commissioning today is a product of that thought, and it is only the first phase of the project. As soon as we put this to use, we hope that the incoming administration will continue with the construction of the second phase”.
The expanded terminal building has brand new protocol lounges, airline office spaces, VIP lounges, with the complements of conveniences that will enhance safety, security and comfort of passengers.
On the recent replacements of some heads of aviation agencies and directors, senator Sirika said, the reorganization was approved by Mr. President.
“Is an ongoing process and it will continue to go, there is nothing under the carpet if it is being approved by Mr. President. Government is a continuum and there is a timeline, they have their tenure, they have their time to come in and go”.
He emphasized that the Buhari’s Administration is leaving the industry better than it meant with a double increase in the number of airlines, airports and quadruple the number of passengers.