Daily Independent (Lagos)
26 November 2008
opinion
The problems of aviation, and those visible at the nation's airports today, emanate from poor maintenance culture, maladministration, inconsistencies in government policies, poor funding of the industry and the dearth of professionals among others.
The manifestations of the problems are the presence of obsolete equipment/facilities, unviable airports, poor revenue generation, poor manpower, low productivity and backlog of debts, among others. For instance, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from records makes average annual revenue of N25billion from internally generated revenue, it requires more than this amount to service personnel and overhead costs, including the maintenance of physical assets and facilities such as tarmac, landside, and terminal buildings.
The Authority cannot also shirk its responsibilities of ensuring the maintenance of vehicle and mechanical equipment, civil and pavement maintenance, airfield lighting system/apron/street/terminal building electrical and electronics maintenance, grass-cutting and landscaping of airports and safety management system on aircraft/aerodromes. It has to contend with aged and obsolete facilities at the nation's airports. Amidst all these challenges, the airlines, which continue to explore the growing and lucrative Nigerian market and collect airport service charge on behalf of FAAN are not helping the Authority in its bid to develop the airports.
The airlines, records from FAAN show, currently owe the Authority over N4billion arising from unpaid landing and parking charges. Interestingly, while the airlines continue to give excuses for their failure to pay their debts, they are vocal in their criticisms of FAAN on the poor state of the airports. In the best interest of the operators, FAAN has spent over N1billion on measures aimed at combating bird strike, a menace to safety and security of air travel. Some of the airlines and government agencies operating at the airports default in payment of sundry bills such as electricity bills. FAAN as the 'big brother' is contrained to clear the bills, yet waiting endlessly for defrayment from the defaulters.
To do otherwise is to have the airports in utter darkness. It is lamentable that the Authority pays an average of N45m monthly on electricity bill just for the Lagos airport. The Authority also spends an average of N17.4m monthly on diesel and petrol for the generators at the airport. What FAAN pays to sustain the other 20 airports is better imagined. Another perennial challenge faced by FAAN is government's policy inconsistency.
A situation where we have instability in leadership of the Authority, with the appointment of eight managing directors within 10 years, does not augur well for continuity, clear-cut focus and meaningful development of the agency. Some projects, including airport and car park concession by FAAN to some private firms, on the directive of the Federal Government, have been inimical to the revenue generation of the organisation. The federal allocation from the government, meant for capital projects, cannot take care of the increasing financial challenges at the airports. FAAN, for instance, would require over N3billion to resurface a runway of about 3,000metres. This gives a faint idea of the colossal amount required should FAAN contemplate the resurfacing of the 22 runways across the country.
Coming with an avant-garde approach, the Managing Director of FAAN, Richard Aisuebeogun, who came on board in November 2007, mobilised his lieutenants and the entire workforce, who had hitherto been disenchanted, and tasked them to reposition the organisation for contemporary challenges and realities. To Aisuebeogun, the workers needed to be creative, and should be able to proffer practical solutions to the agency's problems in order for FAAN to live up to the status of a true service provider in the aviation industry. With the synergy, Aisuebeogun, in the course of this year, drew a new business strategy, which aims at transforming the Authority to an improved service-oriented company. The strategy is in line with Federal Government's port reform programme with the vision of providing a safe, secure and efficient transportation system for the country.
The implementation of the business plan, in the short, medium and long terms, has, barely a year of the Aisuebeogun's administration, seen the completion of the seemingly jinxed Port Harcourt Airport's runway. Domestic and international flight operations resumed at the airport more than a year after the airport went on recess following the irreparable loss of 109 people in a crash at the airport on December 10, 2005. With the limited resources at its disposal, the administration also contracted Siemen's ADB Airfield Lighting System for the installation of the Airfield Lighting System at the airport at the cost of N920m.
The contractor has promised to complete the first phase of the work in December 2008. At the MMA, which has a record of 23 airlines operating 18 flights daily at the over 30 year-old airport, the facilities are unarguably overstretched. With no fewer than 4,052 passengers using the airport daily, it is only fair to commend the leadership of FAAN and the MMA for sustaining the operations of the airport up to this day. The airport is once more made a conducive place for passengers, with the provision of 2,800 new seats at the departure hall of the terminal. The incessant congestion at the airport is currently being addressed with the ongoing expansion of the departure hall. The same could be said of the temporary car park at the MMA. The permanent one has already been concessioned out.
Following the occasional problem experienced with air conditioning system at the airport, Aisuebeogun recently reassured the public that arrangements were in the pipeline to overhaul the facilities at the airport. Presently, the three chillers at the terminal are working well; this has brought about improved cooling system at the terminal. Plans, according to the management of FAAN, are under way to add more to the air conditioning units at the airport. The toilets at the airports have also been improved upon. The management of FAAN, according to Aisuebeogun, is determined to ensure the regular payment of its contractors responsible for the cleaning of the airport's toilets.
Without dismissing the calls for improvement on the four screening machines at the MMIA terminal, the Aisuebeogun leadership has successfully sustained the serviceability of the four screening machines at the MMIA terminal and the three at the central screening are working well. The conference room of the airport has been totally refurbished with new carpets, window blinds and tables.
Out of the 14 aviobridges, the only one that is not serviceable is being fixed to meet the evolving challenges of wide-bodied aircraft in the country. FAAN has also intensified efforts in reducing the incidence of bird strike at the airport by cutting grasses regularly. The aesthetics of the terminal has improved with the new painting of walls and road divider at the airport. The airport has also serviced two boreholes to improve water supply. One distinguishing style of the incumbent administration is its partnership with state governments. This relationship has been symbiotic. For instance, the relationship is paying off in Kaduna State with the completion of work on the Kaduna Airport's runway. In Kano, FAAN would, in due course, complete the domestic terminal building. The completion of civil works on the second runway at the MMA, 18L, before the end of 2008. The management of FAAN has also concluded arrangements with a Singaporean firm, which put in place the carousels at the MMA, to rehabilitate it.
The leadership of the authority, however, contemplates embracing the Public-Private Participation towards replacing the old conveyors with more sophisticated and efficient ones. Also as a result of the collective commitment to the development of the nation's airports, the Rivers State Government recently donated a fire tender to FAAN. The NDDC was not insensitive to the yearnings of the airport as it donated to it a 500KVA generator. The FAAN management has lately installed three 1000KVA and three 500KVA generators.
It is also replacing the old transformers at the airport with new ones. The Niger State Government has also risen to the challenge of supporting FAAN for effective service delivery. The government recently donated two fire tenders to FAAN. Absolutely committed to ensuring safety and promoting the highest level of aviation standards in the land, the present FAAN management in spite of its financial predicament, particularly with airport maintenance funding, has succeeded in settling a substantial part of its over N20billion debt inherited from its predecessors.
More improvement on the state of the airports could be accomplished if FAAN is given the required support in the exploration of the non-aeronautical avenues to boost its revenue base. With that, the resort to a lifeline from government would not in any way arise.
Ogunrounbi, an aviation expert, writes from 4, Anuoluwapo Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ifo, Ogun State.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 Daily Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Some Americans once trusted failed FAA Acting Administrator “Bobby” Sturgell to act like he was a regulator and prevent Americans from flying in cracked, dangerous planes. Then, after many months of FAA intimidation seeking to silence those desirous of telling the truth, the ram broke the dam. Whistle-blower courage and Congressional and FBI probe forced “Bobby” Sturgell and his FAA to admit that their malfeasance allowed hundreds of thousands and perhaps even millions of passengers to fly in cracked and defective Southwest and other aircraft. Bobby Sturgell’s defense, was denial – he continued to self-tout that he led the “Safest Period In Aviation History”. Yet approximately 3,500 souls and climbing have died on “Bobby” Sturgell’s own FAA “watch”. The NTSB statistics are here: http://indictsturgell.blogspot.com/2008/10/failed-faa-pilot-bobby-sturgell- racks.html Trust “Bobby” Sturgell just as much as you ever trusted Baghdad Bob, Chemical Ali, and Saddam Hussein. The men are each other's moral equivalent. Bobby Sturgell has the same credibility as Baghdad Bob, the same respect for the sanctity of human life as Chemical Ali, and the same political future as Saddam Hussein. And now, each have been thankfully kicked to their governments’ respective curbs. I call THAT justice. John J. Tormey III, Esq. Quiet Rockland http://www.bobbysturgell.net