Chinedu Eze
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that all is now set for the commissioning of the newly built international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday, March 22.
The agency explained that the new facility was one of fivebbeing built in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu, in a bilateral arrangement between the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the People’s Republic of China, stating that the ones in Abuja and Port Harcourt have been completed and commissioned already, while that of Kano has been completed and would soon be commissioned.
In a statement signed by the acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the agency, Mrs. Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, the new Lagos international terminal, which would be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, has the capacity to process 14 million passengers per annum, and built on a land mass of approximately 56,000 square metres with 66 check-in counters.
“Other facilities in the terminal include five baggage collection carousels, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, eight security screening points, six passenger boarding bridges (out of which two has already been installed), two food courts, four premium lounges, 22 guest rooms and spa, 16 airline ticketing offices, visa on arrival and port health facility, as well as praying area, more than 3,000 square metres of duty free space, approximately 5,000 square metres of lettable utility space, amongst others,” the statement said.
The agency also said the new terminal to be commissioned is expected to generate about three thousand direct and indirect employment for Nigerians, as well as enhance passenger facilitation and comfort at the Lagos airport.
“The authority will also sign a memorandum of understanding with the Lagos State Government on the 9km Airport-Shasha-Alimosho link Road to be constructed by the state government,” FAAN disclosed.
