Keyamo to reinforce airports surveillance with special task force

Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, says he plans to appoint voluntary special airport marshals to oversee staff conduct and evaluate airport cleanliness and general conditions.

In a statement on Thursday, Tunde Moshood, the special adviser on media and communications to Keyamo, said the marshals will include public-spirited individuals.

The marshals will be responsible for ensuring the accountability of airport managers who receive monthly allocations for airport maintenance.

“The Minister, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, will appoint voluntary Special Airport Marshals who are resident in cities where airports are located,” the statement reads.

“These Marshals, comprising public-spirited individuals drawn from members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and representatives of State Governors, will conduct unscheduled visits to the airports.

“Their role will be to monitor staff conduct and assess the general hygiene and conditions of the airports.

“The voluntary Special Airport Marshals shall report directly to the Honourable Minister, who will issue necessary directives to FAAN based on their findings.

“With this initiative, the Honourable Minister will no longer rely solely on official reports from Airport Managers but will also consider independent observations from these voluntary Special Airport Marshals.

“This will bring an additional transparent layer of supervision to our airports as it will ensure that Airport Managers who receive monthly allocations for airport maintenance are held accountable for their responsibilities.”

To ensure professionalism, Moshood said Keyamo will conduct unscheduled monthly inspections of airports across the country with key stakeholders including the ministry’s permanent secretary, the managing director of FAAN, key directors of the ministry and FAAN, and members of the senate and house committees on aviation.

“During these visits, the Honourable Minister will personally participate in various operational activities, demonstrating leadership and emphasizing the value of diligent service,” the statement reads.

“The Honourable Minister will also address airport staff, hear their complaints and encourage them to uphold professionalism and serve the public courteously.”

Moshood said the minister will soon engage stakeholders to appoint suitable volunteers for the special airport marshal roles.

“The names of the appointed Marshals will be publicly announced to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.

The media aide said the initiatives highlight Keyamo’s commitment to maintaining high service standards and cleanliness at Nigerian airports, ensuring they meet the expectations of the travelling public.