Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has shared multiple initiatives and infrastructure enhancements intended to significantly amplify passenger traffic throughout Nigerian airports, particularly at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the country’s most frequented airport.
In an interview with CNBC Africa, Kuku elaborated that the strategy involves more than just physical upgrades; it includes efforts to enhance the passenger experience, improve airline connectivity, and position Nigeria as a prominent aviation center within Africa.
These comments are timely as the federal government embarks on various reforms within the aviation sector, which encompasses the move towards a cutting-edge digital payment framework at airport toll booths and the ongoing refurbishment of essential airport facilities.
Kuku noted that FAAN's cashless policy, implemented at airport entry points, has initially caused some challenges for passengers and commuters in Lagos.
She indicated that this policy was first rolled out in July of the previous year and was intensified in October, forming part of broader federal initiatives designed to minimize cash transactions within government sectors.
However, she recognized that the unique geographical characteristics surrounding the Lagos airport made the adjustment harder than expected. Unlike other airports situated far from urban settings, the Lagos airport is encircled by dense residential and commercial areas.
"Most global international airports operate within a 13-kilometer radius of their surrounding communities. However, the Lagos airport is nestled right within populated neighborhoods, where commuters rely on airport roads to reach areas such as Ikeja, Oshodi, and Isolo," she stated.
Kuku revealed that FAAN has recorded approximately 100,000 users on its contactless payment system from October to early March, with over 62,000 registrations completed within just three days during the enforcement phase.
Beyond the payment system reforms, Kuku highlighted that some of the most effectively operating airports in Africa have thrived by developing hub strategies that allow passengers to transit smoothly between various destinations without needing to disembark in the host country.
She cited the successful examples of airports like O. R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia, and Cairo International Airport in Egypt.
"These airports function not merely as destinations. They act as hubs for passengers transitioning from one place to another without departing from the airport environment," she elaborated.
Kuku pointed out that Nigeria's air travel penetration rate is still below two percent of its overall population, stressing that enhancing passenger numbers will necessitate improvements in the larger economic landscape.
"With an increase in business activities, tourism, and trade, there will naturally be a rise in passenger movement," she concluded.
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