Travellers, workers groan as conveyor belts, AC collapse at Lagos airport

Nigeria’s transport sector has grown significantly, contributing 1.65% to the economy in Q4 2021, a rise from 1.32% recorded the previous year. In real terms, the country’s GDP climbed N20.33 trillion in 2021 — an uptick from 1.32 percent recorded in 2020.

Within the same period, the aviation sector grew 19.70% from a contraction of 36.98% in 2020 — owing to COVID-19 disruption and global lockdown.

But despite the growth, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), one of the busiest airports in Nigeria, seems to be experiencing dysfunctional problems with equipment.

In 2018, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) diverted all flights operations from the Wing D of the MMIA Lagos to the E Wing of the airport for maintenance works.

Five years down, the airport is still a shadow of itself amid faulty conveyor belts, poor air conditioning and ventilating system, which continue to affect smooth operations and delay flights at MMIA.

When TheCable visited on Thursday, aviation workers said the conveyor belts at terminal wing D of the airport were in total bad shape.

They expressed frustration over delays in the maintenance and repairs of the equipment, stressing that it poses environmental hazards to passengers and workers.

Many of them told TheCable that the poor maintenance of the facility is a big shame for the country’s busiest airport. 

“One of the conveyor belts in Wing D is not working. This has been going on since last week,” a baggage handler at Wing E told TheCable.

“They know how to handle it.” 

He said the situation has been affecting smooth operations at the airport, but they are trying to fix it.

Another aviation staff said while one of the conveyor belts at Wing D is not working, “the rest are partially functioning.

He explained that the situation has made work difficult for them as they have to move luggage to Wing E of the terminal.

“It’s not been easy,” he said.

“It’s delaying flights and operations as well. Yesterday, when I came to work, we have to be taking luggage to the other side (wing E).

“This has been going on for years, even before I joined in 2018. There was a time we moved bags for three months. This government can actually provide for them to fix it. But I don’t know why.”

According to him, when the conveyor belt at Wing D is in good working condition, the others would not work.

POOR VENTILATION SYSTEM

At the time of visit, the airport atmosphere was hot owing to poor ventilation. TheCable understands that the air conditioners (ACs) and chillers are suffering from the same fate as the conveyor belts.

A FAAN worker said the ACs and chillers malfunction, stressing that the environment is not so conducive for travellers because of the heat.

“It’s not even conducive for us that are working inside the airport. The AC and Chillers ain’t working the way it’s supposed to be working,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Toke Makinwa, a popular media personality, lamented the state of the MMIA, Lagos.

”Touch down Lagos Nigeria and the heat at the airport is insane, why will the AC at arrivals not work,” Makinwa tweeted.

“The fans blowing hot air and the officers having to work under such circumstances is sad. What a country!

“I am standing at the arrivals dripping in sweat and all I can think is the officers in the box who have to endure this daily.

“Like we’ve all just accepted this as normal cos we go into our cars with Air Conditioners after but these people who work here under such harsh conditions are human too.

“No wonder they take out their anger and impatience on travellers. You enter Nigeria and pick up stress.”

MAINTENANCE STILL ONGOING — FAAN

Last week, the aviation authority said it was conducting a “routine maintenance” of conveyor belts at the Lagos airport after multiple complaints by passengers.

When contacted, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAn spokesperson told TheCable that the conveyor belts are still being serviced.

“The conveyor belts are been serviced. We issued a statement on the belts sometime last week,” she said.

Yakubu added that the procedure was in line with FAAN’s facilities maintenance programme, aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the airport’s facilities.

She, however, said maintenance work would be completed soon, and appealed to its stakeholders “to please bear with us”.