FAAN Blames Obsolete Infrastructure for Sorry State of Nigerian Airports

Inadequate seats, improper air conditioning and other challenges at Nigerian airports are as a result of the outdated equipment, according to George Uriesi, managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Uriesi, who stated this at the weekend while featuring as a guest on a television programme, explained that airports are living organisms and, therefore, need reconstruction and development.

While commending the level of improvement FAAN has witnessed under his leadership, he lamented that after the construction of many of the country’s airports, “Nigeria has been sleeping for over 30 years after opening the last airport in 1982.

“In any country where you go to sleep with something as critical to the country’s economic development as airports, what we have now, what we inherited two years ago is what you find.

“The aviation system is derelict and decrepit and this has made Nigeria’s flagship airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, a national embarrassment and shame. You sweat because the air conditioning came with the building in 1979”.

The generators came with the building in 1979, as well as the lifts and escalators. What do you expect?” he asked.