Senate Committee on Aviation during its oversight visit to Lagos airport
Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Adeyemi Smart says the state of some airport runways is a course for concern saying most have never been rehabilitated or upgraded to standards.
Senator Smart expressed the concern during the Committee’s oversight visit to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, in Lagos.
While commending the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika on the successful reconstruction of the Abuja and Enugu airport runways, he emphasised on the need for other airport runways to be given similar attention.
He said there would be budgetary provision to address these issues, adding that government should not wait until there is an accident or incident before doing something.
He also expressed concern for the welfare of workers in the aviation sector, to boost productivity.
Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu appealed for the suspension of 25% contribution to the Federation Accounts to enable it to plough back to the system to cater to safety-critical facilities.
“Government support in stabilizing the industry can be achieved by suspending the contribution to the Federation Account in compliance with ICAO standards and Recommendations practices, SARPS”.
The Senators were later taken on a tour of the ongoing construction work on the access road and emergency runway at the Lagos International Airport.
