The National Productivity Merit Award conferred on Engineer Saleh Dunoma, the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) last week, showed that the on-going airport reforms which he spearheaded are being appreciated and acknowledged at various levels of the society.
As a matter of fact, those who are directly affected by the positive reforms are passengers who are now happy with the efforts of the Managing Director, as they see the airports as being now more secured, safe and passenger –friendly. The recent increase recorded in the number of Air-travelers has been attributed to the improved status of the airports.
The Aminu Kano international airport for example, had recently undergone massive rehabilitation to make it passenger-friendly.
There are indications that the nation’s aviation sector is now being properly repositioned to play its crucial role of securing a huge revenue of more than N959 billion annually as envisaged by the government. This is according to aviation sources.
The ongoing inspection visits to the nation’s airports by Engr. Saleh Dunoma, along with the Permanent Secretary in the aviation Ministry, Ms. Binta Bello and other top officials in the aviation sector is very reassuring and commendable, as many of such sectors are also out re-strategizing for better results.
There is no doubt that the efforts of FAAN and other stakeholders in the aviation sector will go a long way in bringing in more revenue to government and comfort to millions of passengers across the country.
Engr. Dunoma is believed to have, on assumption of duty took drastic steps to improve facilities at the Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Portharcourt airports like other airports which now have new terminals and other facilities.
In keeping with his promise when he was appointed in 2011, Engr. Dunoma had among others, improved the security network and safety at the airports and has also improved the facilities available for passengers in such a way that the airports, especially the international terminals
can boast of the same type of facilities like those in the foreign countries. He also gave priority attention to the renovation of run –ways, aviation tools, terminals and provision of
modern facilities to the airports.
Engr. Dunoma has displayed a high sense of dynamism that has enabled him to adapt to the ever changing situation in the aviation sector.
Engr. Dunoma’s ability to achieve a lot is due to the fact as FAANs former Director of Project, he has virtually worked with many FAAN Managing Directors before he rose to the MD’s position himself apart from being one of the oldest FAAN employees around since he was reported to have joined the authority.
So far among the airports remodeled under the supervision of Engr.
Dunoma, include the domestic terminal of the Abuja International
Airport, Kaduna airport terminal, the terminals at Benin and Calabar,
International terminal at the Nnamdi Azikwe, Murtala international
airport, general aviation terminal, Magret Ekpo airport, Yola airport,
Maiduguri airport, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Owerri airports. They have
all been reasonably upgraded.
Work is still being carried out on more other airports to make them more beautiful and passenger friendly. This is in accordance with the 5-point objectives of Engr. Dunoma.
Apart from the Permanent Secretary in the aviation ministry, Ms. Binta Bello, the current FAAN Managing Director has been seen physically inspecting facilities at the airports on many
occasions to ensure that things are done according to how his team has
planned them, and as directed by his superiors.
Ibrahim Biu sent in this piece from Abuja. [myad]
