FG to appoint journalists, others as airport marshals

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed plans to appoint journalists, Non-governmental organisation, and other representatives from state governors as Voluntary  Airport Marshals to supervise activities across Nigerian airports.

The Minister in a press statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Tunde Moshood said the Special Airport Marshals will be resident in the cities where the airport is located and conduct unscheduled visits to monitor staff conduct and assess the general hygiene and conditions of the airports.

The airport marshals are expected to report directly to the  Minister, who will then issue necessary directives to the Federal  Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) based on their findings.

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In addition, the statement stated that the Minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary the Managing Director of FAAN, key directors of the Ministry and FAAN, and members of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation, will also conduct unscheduled monthly inspections of airports nationwide.

The agency said that during these visits, the Minister will personally participate in various operational activities, demonstrating leadership and emphasizing the value of diligent service, addressing airport staff, hearing their complaints encouraging them to uphold professionalism, and serving the public courteously.

FAAN said with this initiative, the Minister will no longer rely solely on official reports from Airport Managers, bring  a transparent layer of supervision to the airports, and also ensure Airport Managers who receive monthly allocations for airport maintenance are held accountable for their responsibilities

The aim of the initiative, according to Mr Moshood, is to improve service delivery and environmental conditions at these facilities.

He disclosed that in the coming weeks, the Minister will engage stakeholders in consultations to identify and appoint suitable volunteers for the Special Airport Marshal roles, assuring that names of the appointed Marshals will be publicly announced to ensure transparency and accountability.

“These initiatives underscore the Minister’s commitment to maintaining high standards of service delivery and cleanliness at Nigerian airports, ensuring they meet the needs of the traveling public,” he stated.