Lagos: An aviation security consultant, retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, has identified unstable policies as a hindrance to having aerotropolis in Nigeria’s major airports. Ojikutu made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Aerotropolis is a concept where an airport’s surrounding area develops into a thriving urban center, featuring businesses, residential areas, and transport networks optimally interconnected around the airport. Essentially, it is an airport-driven urban area with a focus on aviation-linked businesses and activities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, aerotropolis has been in the plan of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for over 20 years but has faced some challenges. The integration of aerotropolis into an airport’s master plan is expected to strengthen the airport’s role as a hub for economic activities and development.
Ojikutu pointed out that the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) has a master plan which has been distorted. He noted that while the international passengers’ terminals were expected to be four, only two are currently operational and are struggling with private aircraft operators. Additionally, surrounding the airport are public houses and buildings situated on land approved by the government for airport development, leaving the MMA without available land on the opposite side for any further development. All services, including the international and domestic terminals, airline and private operators’ hangars, ground handling services, fuel marketers, and military barracks, are concentrated on one side of the airport.
He further explained that much of the encroached lands at the airports could have been designated for parks, recreational areas, hotels, and shopping malls, among others. Ojikutu emphasized that the aerotropolis plan’s stagnation is due to unstable policies and the personal interests of those in the administration and management of relevant agencies. He also pointed out that the Privatisation, Commercialisation, and Concession Act of 2000 has not been revisited for new developments since the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).
On the matter of airport security, Ojikutu mentioned that having more than six government security agencies operating within airports hinders effective collaboration. He argues that there can be no effective collaboration without a unified command and control system, and the presence of multiple agencies results in overlapping responsibilities and lack of clear control.