•Launches Free WiFi Service
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, has said that it needs the continued support to private sector players to realise its full vision of having appropriate digital infrastructure within the country’s airports, especially as modernisation does not require waiting solely for state funding, it requires partnership, innovation, and the courage to execute.

She stated this at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during the launch of a free Wi-Fi network at the Terminal Two of the airport with plans to extend it to other international airports across Nigeria in partnership with MTN Nigeria, said.

Kuku, represented by the Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Abdullahi Mahmood, added:”To potential partners in both the public and private sectors: join us. This is what partnership looks like when it is driven by genuine purpose. Together, we can accelerate the deployment of critical digital infrastructure that will position Nigeria as a leader in aviation excellence. The signal is on – now let us amplify it together.

She further said that the initiative was more than a connectivity project, rather a proof that purposeful Public Private Partnership (PPP) could fast-track infrastructure modernisation in the country’s aviation industry.

The first phase of the service commenced at Lagos and Abuja airports simultaneously, while Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu and the temporary international terminal in Lagos would be added to the free wi-fi service in the next three months.

She said: “This partnership with MTN is a major step forward in our efforts to modernise infrastructure and improve the digital economy. In today’s connected world, access to reliable internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

We are pleased to offer this value-added service to our passengers, making their travel experience easier and more productive.”

According to Kuku, internet connectivity had become a core component of airport operations globally, ranking alongside critical utilities such as electricity and air conditioning, stressing that Nigeria could not be found wanting in such development.

She maintained that the partnership with MTN Nigeria would further improve passenger experience at the nation’s airports, while also supporting the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda.

In her comment, the Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, Lynda Nwafor, said that the telecommunication company deepened its collaboration with FAAN in a bid to enhance the experience of travellers coming into or leaving the nation’s airports.

Nwafor insisted that connectivity was no longer a luxury, rather a necessity. She declared that everyone deserved the benefits of a modern, connected life, irrespective of their businesses.

She added: “This initiative reflects a shared commitment to improving passenger experience, enhancing accessibility, and demonstrating what ‘shared value’ means to us at MTN.

“Airports are unique environments. They serve as gateways to opportunity and are busy intersections where people from all walks of life converge. From business travellers and tourists to airport personnel and service providers, everyone requires seamless and dependable connectivity. With this service, travellers across our major airports, while waiting to board, in transit, or upon arrival can now stay connected freely and effortlessly.”

She described the Wi-Fi platform as a smart, analytics-enabled solution that would aid productivity of the beneficiaries.