Minister directs removal of hangars, relocation of aviation firms from MMIA terminals

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has directed some occupants of portions of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, in Lagos, including hangar owners and international airlines, to vacate their spaces from October 1, to allow the Federal Government commence major repairs.

Also, the minister directed the removal of hangars belonging to Dominion and EAN to pave the way for the expansion of the Domestic Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

Keyamo gave the directive on Thursday during a facility tour of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the MMIA.

The minister who toured the Lagos airport in company of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Meribole was led round the facility by the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Kabir Mohammed, also visited the agency’s Headquarters Annex in Lagos.

According to Mr. Keyamo, President Bola Tinubu has mandated the Ministry to generate revenue from the country’s airports.

“Let revenue be coming in through all these spaces here.

“Once anyone is driving into any local airport there should be life. Online advertisement agency has not and cannot take over real life advertisement.

“We have been given mandate to raise revenue for the government. Please, contact the advert agencies so they should put up adverts on all these spaces.

“We cannot have all these spaces and be taking about lack of funds. All details on your findings should be sent to me in seven days.”

The minister further directed airlines hindering the planned expansion works at the international Wing of the MMIA to vacant the facility from October 1, 2023, adding that it had become necessary in order ‘to give room for total maintenance work at the airport.’

The minister while speaking at the sideline of the airport tour directed the affected airlines and aviation ground handling companies operating in the airport to move to the new terminal, MMIA Terminal 2 constructed by the Chinese company.

Keyamo also suspended all contracts, projects, concessions in the sector until further notice.

“All airlines should vacate the MMIA before the 1st of October, 2023 and relocate to MMIA terminal two.”