ICAO: Overstretched Airport Facilities Threaten Safety, Security in Africa

The President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu has called for massive investment in airport infrastructure in Africa in view of the surging passenger traffic, which is projected to grow by about 3.6 per cent annually till 2032.

The ICAO Council President warned that if concerted efforts were not made in airport modernisation and expansion, the existing airport facilities would become over stretched and threaten safety and security of passengers.

Aliu spoke on Monday at the on-going 59th Airport Council International (ACI) Africa Board and Committee Meetings and Regional Conference and Exhibition holding at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

He said: “The current efforts being undertaken to reposition air transport in Africa, and ensure its sustainability, are in clear acknowledgment of the fact that regional air traffic is still forecast to grow at roughly 3.8 per cent annually through 2032. I will like to reiterate that this rapidly-expanding air traffic can only be sustained and optimised through the continued development and modernisation of local aviation infrastructure, particularly at airports.”

Aliu, a Nigerian and the first African to serve as the President of ICAO Council, remarked that the major challenge in the development of airport infrastructure in Africa is inadequate funding and noted that the private sector may be unwilling to invest in aviation development because there is no defined institutional, legal and regulatory framework that could provide the incentive for institutions to investment in airport infrastructure.

“It has become increasingly difficult however, for many states and airport operators to mobilise the significant and dependable funding and investments required for high quality aviation infrastructure.

Another key concern is the risk associated with a lack of sufficient institutional, legal and regulatory enabling frameworks in many African states, something which makes it very difficult for financial institutions to invest in airport projects,” he said.

Welcoming participants at the conference, the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha said the federal government has continued to promote infrastructural development, facilities renewal and the implementation of policies aimed at facilitating the growth and sustainability of the sector.

Mustapha said two major airports in the country were certified namely: Murtala Muhammed lnternational Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and there is on-going construction of five new international airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu to expand passenger handling capacity to 15 million annually.

He said, currently there is the implementation of Aviation Sector Roadmap, which was approved by the President in 2016, aimed at opening opportunities for investment in the aviation sector.