FAAN moves to dispose abandoned aircraft

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has called on all owners of abandoned aircraft at the graveyard of the Murtala Muhammed Airport to evacuate such within the next seven days.

FAAN said it was ready to dispose of such aircraft in line with the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Director of Airport Operations, Captain Henry Omeogu, while on a safety inspection at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1, noted that the action had become necessary due to recurring operational hitches that have been posing serious safety concerns to aircraft and some infrastructure at the terminal.

Omeogu appealed to the owners of the aircraft, some of which had been parked at the graveyard since 2005, to immediately remove them to forestall situations where unscrupulous elements would use abandoned aircraft as hiding places to perpetuate criminal activities.

Stressing that the Authority would continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of all travellers and other airport users in line with its mission statement, he enjoined all stakeholders to partner with the Authority to ensure safer and more secure airports.