TRANSPORT DAY EDITORIAL
The federal government has announced that it will be demolishing and re-building the old Murtala Mohammed airport domestic terminal, in order to build a more befitting edifice.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo SAN, who spoke at a recent book launch, said the government is saddened over the deteriorating condition of the old terminal at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
Keyamo also stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to formulating policies that support the development of domestic carriers.
According to online resource, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos was initially built during World War II. The new international terminal, which was later named after the former Nigerian military head of state, Murtala Muhammed, was constructed and officially opened on March 15, 1979.
Though the international wing of the airport has long been redesigned and remodeled, and the other wing of the domestic terminal completely transformed following the handover to Bi-Courtney, the other domestic wing has received little or no upgrade for a long time.
The second domestic terminal needs facilities like multi-layer car park, elevators, befitting departure lounge, eatery, mini-banking hall among others.
There is also a need to connect the two domestic terminal terminals as it is currently a big challenge for passengers who must first of all, come out of the airport before they can connect one terminal with another.
The challenge becomes more glaring when a passenger is forced to move from one terminal to another because s/he cannot find a particular airline booth in one of the terminals.
Overall, the rebuilding of the terminal, will further boost aviation infrastructure in the country and make flying through that terminal much easier.
