Business Post Contributor
By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that it would address and resolve the issues hindering the installation of lights on Lagos airport runway 18L/36R (domestic airway).
It was gathered that the AirField Lighting on Runway 18 Left at the airport has been uninstalled for the past 13 years and has prevented aircraft from landing or taking off when it is dark on the runway.
The unserviceable state of the runway lights had, in June, forced British Airways to divert all its flights out of London to enable it to land at Lagos airport in the afternoon.
Addressing the situation, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Rabiu Yadudu, on Saturday after a facility tour at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said that the issue would be resolved in six months.
He said, “You know FAAN is a government agency, we cannot work and procure a new project when there is an existing one on the same facility. So many things are delayed not because of negligence or lack of attention but because you have to follow due process.
“On the 18Left Runway light that has been an ongoing issue for almost a decade and a half, a solution is in sight as agreements have been reached in principle. We are only waiting for approval so we can procure a new lighting system and install it within six months.
“So, it was not negligence or lack of attention because as a government agency, FAAN had to follow due process.”
The FAAN boss further noted that the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, had agreed to resolve the protracted contract issues and grant approval to procure a new lighting system.
Citing that the Taxiway Bravo has attained 95 per cent completion, Mr Yadudu added that the agency would procure and install the airfield lighting (AFL) equipment after the contract issues had been resolved as it is critical to the airport’s operations.
“For the last two years since I became the MD of FAAN, our primary target, among others, is the airfield lighting on runway 18L and the taxiway Bravo, and we thank God now that taxiway Bravo is 95 per cent done. We just came from the inspection tour; it has been achieved.
“Runway 18L has been delayed because of a current contract that has been for many years, and finally, the minister has graciously accepted to resolve that issue that has been protracted, and he has agreed to grant us permission or approval to quickly procure a new lighting system,” he said.
