The Shame at Our Airports

Comfort Obi

Babatunde Omotoba, the Minister for Aviation has just said something important. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, April 22, during a meeting with officials of Lufthansa German Airlines / Techniks, he disclosed that the Federal Government plans to build a new Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Lufthansa officials came to meet with him in connection with the construction of a second runway at the airport which cost is put at four billion naira. The very reputable company will construct the runway. According to Omotoba, President Umaru Yar’Adua is desirous of transforming the Abuja Airport into a world class airport, and in doing so, make it the hub of aviation in Africa and the envy (emphasis mine) of all. When completed, the new terminal will replace the existing one, which will then be converted to a local terminal.
Ordinarily, this news should gladden the hearts of Nigerians, especially, air travellers, and especially those who have had the privilege of travelling outside Nigeria, and have seen what international terminals look like. On countless number of times, Nigerians have expressed disgust at the shame that is our airports – local or International. They look at the infrastructure and its decay and shudder. They look at its operators, and a number of those who work there, and they whine. They look at the environment, and they shudder the more. They are confronted with toilets which stink to high heavens. There are no toilet rolls. What confronts one, often, is one very cheap toilet roll which hangs on the door. There is no soap to wash the hands. If one is lucky, then one sees liquid soap which had been turned into a plastic bottle of empty bottled water, and mixed with tap water. The hand driers hardly operate.
The departure halls are like oven. The airconditioners hardly work, and so are the fans. The arrival hall is worse. During peak seasons – Christmas and New Year – a number of passengers, on arrival, suffer heat stroke. Given the situation, therefore, one should be happy that the government is thinking of building a new terminal, which in the words of the Minister, would be world- class.
So, why am I not happy about it? Why do I think it is a waste of money. The reasons are legion: We don’t need it. It is not a priority. There is nothing wrong with the terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport. Its only problem is poor maintenance. Indeed, the present terminal is a wasted edifice. It is the type of project ordinary Nigerians call white elephant. A trip will confirm that it is under-utilised. I mean, it is not a busy international airport.
Each time I go to that terminal, I weep at the waste. But for the local airlines – Virgin Nigeria and Arik – which use it for their local flights, it would have been empty, especially, during the day. I mean, how many international flights operate from there? What is their frequency? But by far, the most important is the calibre of those who work at our airports – local and international airports.
A number of those working there should not be seen near the airports. Together, they constitute a big embarrassment to Nigeria and air travellers. And, if ever the Minister for Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili is confused about where to start the re-branding exercise, I recommend airports as starting points. And this is why.
Nigerian airports are filled with beggars in the name of workers. Indeed, as soon as one gets down from the car, one is confronted by touts in uniform working for the different airlines who give you the wrong time for flights unsolicited. If you fall for their antics, they go a step forward. “Do you have your ticket?” If you answer in the negative, you are quickly given a piece of paper to write your name. When you do that, they ask you to stand aside and allow them to buy the ticket for you. Thereafter, they expect you to "dash” them some money in appreciation. Yet, compared to what one goes through thereafter, they are minor irritants. If you have any luggage to check in, those checking it in will expect you to “show appreciation.” And, then, there are the loaders who will shamelessly tell you: “We are the ones going to load your luggages.” You wonder why they are telling you that. The reason is simple: Show us appreciation. And you are left wondering what would happen to your luggage if you ignore them. But, perhaps, the worst is left for the screening point, especially, if the screening machine is not working. They insist on your presence, not to watch them screen you luggage, but to tell you, “we are here o. What did you bring for us?” Weeks after the Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations, they are still wishing everyone “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Easter." On weekends, you are wished “Happy Weekend.” On Sundays, it is “Happy Sunday.” If you escape them, another set is waiting for you at the boarding point – those who hold the metal detectors! They remind you that you forgot to do Christmas, New Year, Easter or weekend for them.
Embarrassing as their activities are, what worries me most are the dangers we are exposed to because of their beggarly behaviour. Your luggage is sent in unchecked if you “give them something.” Interpretation: Anything can be loaded inside the aircraft. It is so bad that each time I fly, and we land safely, I proclaim: “God, you are a Nigerian!” What are the authorities doing about these disgraceful behaviour which are equally extended to foreigners?
The minister says Yar’Adua said we’d have a terminal in Abuja that would be the envy of the world. How can we achieve that with the same people who are working at the airport and disgracing us? Truth is, whatever that were achieved during the tenure of Dr. (Mrs) Kema Chikwe as the Aviation Minister has been lost. That time, the airports were clean. There was water. The toilets were clean. The airconditioners were working. Airport workers were not this beggarly. Now, nothing works. And we are being embarrassed and milked from all angles.
I don't know how much the new terminal will finally cost, but it will be in billions and billions of naira. I submit that it is not a priority. The money would be better used in providing infrastructure at the existing airports, and in training and re-training those who work at the airports. For now, it is a big shame.