The Director of Public Affair of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obiageli Orah, has responded to series of reports stating that flights from the Lagos International Airport were not able to use the runway because of stolen lighting system.
The response came in a press statement which reads:
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has read with dismay and thought it necessary to respond to the series of misinformation published on May 24, 2024, by an online media publication known as “Foundation for Investigative Journalism” on the Runway 18R/36L, which is the runway designated for international operations.
“Runway 18R/36L of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, was reopened for full operations on February 17th 2024 after 11 months of closure for rehabilitation work.
“The runway has since been in use for landing and taking off of international flights without incident using Link 2 and Link 3.
“FAAN is proud to reveal that according to statistics made available by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Air Traffic Control Services, between April 1st 2024 and May 1st 2024, a total of 1189 departures and 1165 landings were recorded on the Runway 18R/36L.
“It is important to note that the MMIA is currently operating as CAT 2 Airport designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“The approach, edge, and centre line lights are in optimum condition and fully functional. Flights are taking off as well as landing on the runway, day and night.
“The ongoing contract work is an upgrade of the airfield lights to CAT 3. This work does not affect the operations of the runway in any way.
“At FAAN, we consider the media as our partners and we believe it is important that reporters are up to speed with verified information at all times. We operate an open-door policy. Efforts should be made to get input from us so we can better serve end users.
“The FAAN frowns at such unprofessional and mischievous reports and uses this medium to charge our media friends to crosscheck their information with us before going to press.”
