FAAN to install lights on Lagos airport domestic runway in six months

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it will resolve contract issues hindering the installation of lights on Lagos airport runway 18L/36R (domestic airway).

While speaking with journalists on Sunday after a facility tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Rabiu Yadudu, managing director of FAAN, said the issues would be resolved within six months.

In June, the ‘non-functional runway lights’ at the Lagos airport had caused British Airways (BA) to divert its Lagos-bound flights to Abuja airport

Yadudu said Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, had agreed to resolve the protracted contract issues and grant approval to procure a new lighting system.

The FAAN boss explained that after the contract issues had been resolved, the agency would procure and install the air field lighting (AFL) equipment.

“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,” NAN quoted him to have said.

“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 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 within six months.

“So it was not negligence or lack of attention because as a government agency, FAAN had to follow due process.”

He said since he became FAAN MD, the airfield lighting on runway 18L and Taxiway Bravo had been his primary targets.

Yadudu explained that the AFL was critical to the airport’s operations, while adding that the Taxiway Bravo has attained 95 percent completion.

“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,” he said.

“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.”