Govt restores Abuja’s airfield lighting

Posted by admin Abuja (FCT), Aviation, Headlines, State News Thursday, July 26th, 2012

Aviation Minister Ms Stella Oduah has said the full restoration of the airfield lighting at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, will boost passengers’ and operators’ confidence.

The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja after the inspection and inauguration of the newly rehabilitated airfield lighting project. She said this would improve air safety.

Ms Oduah added that Abuja airport would also move one step closer to its certification objectives.

The minister stated that the rehabilitation of the airfield lighting in Abuja is part of the efforts by the ministry to refurbish and renew the facilities at the airside and terminal buildings across airports in the country.

She described the project as “one of the critical safety” initiatives by the ministry, adding that the selection of the contractor, Julius Berger Plc, “has ensured that the security of the airside is not compromised in the process, given the current global and domestic challenges”.

Ms Oduah also inaugurated six Fire Tenders donated to the ministry by SO Aviation, a member of Sahara Energy Nig. Ltd.

She called on other corporate organisations to emulate Sahara Energy group by contributing towards air safety in Nigeria.

The minister said at the inception of her stewardship, the ministry developed a Master Plan/Road Map which made private sector participation its cardinal point.

“Prior to the development of the document, we carried out an evaluation of our systems and capacities and it became evident that the business model for the sector had to change and that increasingly, public-private partnership either under a joint venture or a joint venture arrangement or as part of corporate social responsibility must be given attention.

The minister said the Federal Government would transfer the management of the airport airfield lighting from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

“In order to ensure proper and effective management of safety matters in the sector, the Federal Government has approved the transfer of responsibilities for airfield lighting from FAAN to NAMA purely in the interest of the sector and in line with best practices,” she said.

via Nationwp_posts