Federal Government has concluded plans to commission the newly constructed international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.
Commenting ahead of the inauguration, Ag General Manager, Corporate Affairs at FAAN, Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze said the brand new, world-class international terminal is one of five, being 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.
“The ones in Abuja and Port Harcourt have been completed and commissioned already, while that of Kano has been completed and will soon be commissioned.
“The new Lagos International terminal, which will be commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, has the capacity to process 14million passengers per annum. It is built on a land mass of approximately 56,000 square metres, and it has 66 check-in counters.
“Other facilities in the terminal include 5 baggage collection carousels, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, 8 security screening points, 6 passenger boarding bridges (out of which 2 has already been installed), 2 food courts, 4 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 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.
Records from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) indicate that there are over 22 airlines including cargo carriers operating into the airport.
The Federal Government had secured a $500m loan from China Exim Bank at 2.5 per cent interest rate to the construction of four new terminals since 2013.
Other terminals covered in the $500m loan from China were the construction of four international airport terminals in Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt.
