The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said the newly
completed terminal building at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, will process 15 million passengers annually when it begins
operations.
completed terminal building at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, will process 15 million passengers annually when it begins
operations.
Mr Saleh Dunoma, the Managing Director of FAAN, said that the
terminal building was designed essentially to transport passengers.
terminal building was designed essentially to transport passengers.
He said the terminal building would be inaugurated on Dec. 20 to enhance the operational capacity of the airport.
The FAAN boss disclosed that the current carrying capacity of the airport was 7.5 million passengers per annum.
He said that the inauguration of the new terminal would bring about expansion to the airport.
He said that passengers would begin to enjoy comfort and efficient
services, saying the terminal was built and equipped with modern
facilities such as modern check-in, baggage handling and security
facilities.
services, saying the terminal was built and equipped with modern
facilities such as modern check-in, baggage handling and security
facilities.
“Currently, Abuja is doing like 7.5 million passengers annually in the old terminal, both domestic and international.
He said that the nation now had a terminal that can process 15
million passengers which he described as a great departure from what it
had before.
million passengers which he described as a great departure from what it
had before.
“It is essentially designed for passengers, it is not the kind of
terminal where you have several offices, it is just
designed for passenger purposes and duty offices only.
terminal where you have several offices, it is just
designed for passenger purposes and duty offices only.
“So, most of the offices are going to remain in the old facility and
then we will provide posts for the agencies that will participate in the
processing of passengers.
then we will provide posts for the agencies that will participate in the
processing of passengers.
“All the passenger-handling facilities like the modern security
equipment that are important for security are available in the new
terminal.
equipment that are important for security are available in the new
terminal.
“We have modern check-in facility, we have modern baggage handling
facility, and we have modern security surveillance gadget in the
terminal.
facility, and we have modern security surveillance gadget in the
terminal.
“It is a lot of departure from what we had in the existing facility
and the arrangement is for the passenger-flow to be more efficient than
what we had in the old terminal building,’’ he said.
and the arrangement is for the passenger-flow to be more efficient than
what we had in the old terminal building,’’ he said.
Dunoma said that there were plans to make sure that the old and new terminals work together to ensure connectivity.
According to him, the authority will change its modalities of
operations by providing free trolleys and WiFi services for all
passengers in the new terminal.
operations by providing free trolleys and WiFi services for all
passengers in the new terminal.
He added that the new terminal would attract more passengers and patronage from more international airlines.
He said that there had been applications for additional frequencies into Abuja by some airlines.
The FAAN boss said that authority had decided to delay granting such
approvals because of the limited capacity and in order not to create
congestions pending when the new facility would become operational.
approvals because of the limited capacity and in order not to create
congestions pending when the new facility would become operational.
The Abuja Airport is one of the four new terminals being constructed
at the cost of $600 million by the China Civil Engineering and
Construction Company (CCECC) under the Export-Import Bank of China loan.
at the cost of $600 million by the China Civil Engineering and
Construction Company (CCECC) under the Export-Import Bank of China loan.
The others are in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano and are being
financed from the $500 million loan from China-Exim bank and $100
million counterpart funding from the Federal Government.
financed from the $500 million loan from China-Exim bank and $100
million counterpart funding from the Federal Government.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in October inaugurated the one in Port
Harcourt while the remaining two are expected to be opened for
operations in 2019.
Harcourt while the remaining two are expected to be opened for
operations in 2019.
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