By Chinelo Obogo
Aviation stakeholders have lauded the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, for the timely recertification of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The certificates of both aerodromes had been dormant since 2020 and Kuku is being praised for successfully securing recertification from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after meeting all the stringent conditions.
Airport Operating Certificates are issued to airports that comply with safety and emergency response requirements specified in Part 139, following the provisions of ICAO Annex 14. These requirements cover a range of issues, including signs, lights, and markings, runway safety, aircraft rescue and firefighting, aviation fueling safety, and wildlife hazard management.
In March 2001, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council adopted a new standard requiring certification of aerodromes used for international operations. This standard became applicable on November 27, 2003. Nigeria initially complied by certifying Abuja and Lagos airports in 2017. The three-year duration of these certificates elapsed in November 2020, in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations in force at the time.
At the expiration of NAIA and MMIA certificates, a six-month extension was granted to FAAN to operate the aerodromes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the condition that FAAN resolve all outstanding certification CAP items and complete the recertification process within the extension period.
There were 136 open items for MMIA and 29 for NAIA. FAAN, with NCAA support, worked to close the critical certification findings as required. The airport manager for Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, Danjuma Ahmed, told Daily Sun that Kuku’s ability to ensure closure of these open items in 11 months is commendable, considering the significant resources required.
Ahmed explained that adhering to ICAO guidelines is essential for NCAA certification. He noted that Kuku’s administration effectively documented and implemented the necessary operating procedures to meet ICAO standards, closing 165 openings identified in the previous certification process within one year.
“The MD has done extraordinarily well to achieve this recertification in record time,” Ahmed said. “Closing these gaps in less than a year, despite their capital-intensive nature, is very commendable.”
President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Abednego Galadima, highlighted the critical nature of airport certification to ensure safe air transportation. He commended Kuku’s political will and resource allocation in achieving the recertification.
“Aviation is capital-intensive, and achieving these standards requires significant investment. The MD’s commitment to meeting these requirements within a year is remarkable,” Galadima said.
Former General Manager of Public Affairs in FAAN, Yakubu Datti, attributed Kuku’s success to her financial management expertise. He noted her prioritization of staff training and financial discipline, which have contributed to operational efficiency across FAAN’s 27 airports.
Although the certificates indicate progress, Datti emphasized the need for continued investment in training and facilities to sustain compliance with ICAO guidelines.
Kuku, speaking at a recent Aviation Round Table (ART) event, acknowledged the challenges of addressing long-standing decay in the system. She reiterated her administration’s focus on improving high-priority airports, including Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu, while gradually addressing secondary airports.
“South Africa invested over a billion dollars in Oliver Tambo Airport just this year. While we cannot afford that, we are focusing on making our high-priority airports functional and habitable,” she said.