FAAN insists on demolition of offices in pathway of Lagos airport’s new terminal project, as NASS discusses compensation

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reiterated its insistence on demolishing structures and offices in the pathway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) New Terminal project, even as the members of the National Assembly have called for reconsideration as they discuss compensation terms to the affected businesses.

FAAN has already issued notices to the affected offices and businesses, including private hangars, to relocate or face demolition of their properties

This is coming as the Chinese firm, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the project say it is nearing completion.

FAAN’s spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the relocation order issued to the businesses, however, said the agency would give the affected organisations a new parcel of land within the airport environment to build new offices.

She said the affected offices are on the path of the new terminal but denied that FAAN had issued them a two-week deadline to relocate.

However, the relocation notice also explicitly stated that no compensation would be paid to the affected organizations, but another parcel of land to rebuild their offices.

FAAN insists the land they occupy belongs to the agency, and as such it can quit its tenants.

 “There is no timeframe on their relocation, but they have been told to make plans to relocate. You know they can’t relocate within two weeks. The new terminal will definitely be opened to the public very soon and it will be connected to the old terminal,” she said.

The relocation notice from FAAN came barely a week after members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation, led by Senator Smart Adeyemi and Honourable Nnolim Nnaji Aviation, warned the airport managers against demolishing the affected offices and private hangars at Lagos Airport, against the backdrop of the huge cost in compensation to the affected companies.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi had asked the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu to submit the cost of demolition and compensation due to the owners of the hangars to the joint committee for consideration before going ahead with the plan.

“We are the representatives of the people and we must be sure that the resources of the country are not unduly wasted. We must weigh the options and if the amount to be paid out as compensation does not make sound economic judgement we will not allow it,” Adeyemi said.

Scores of business concerns will be affected if FAAN does follow through on its threat to demolish the affected offices and businesses.

Offices of the Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N), Caverton Helicopters, ExecuJet hangars,

Dominion, Evergreen Apple Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC), are some of the much known properties to be affected by the planned exercise.

It would be recalled that FAAN had disclosed, last week, that the Lagos New Terminal project has reached 98 per cent completion and will be ready for commissioning before the end of March 2022.

The new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is one of the four facilities the Federal Government secured a $500 million loan deal from the Exim Bank of China to build, additional counterpart funding of $100 million was also provided by the Nigerian government.

FAAN’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Yadudu, disclosed this while making a presentation before members of the Joint Committee on Aviation who visited FAAN in continuation of their oversight function at the Conference Hall at the international Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, last weekend.

Yadudu also informed that the new terminal at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano is equally ready and that it should be commissioned before the end of Second Quarter 2022.

Also, the FAAN boss said the new terminal at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu will follow, while also adding that the agency has identified several areas for improving revenue.