Expanded Terminal opens at MMIA,Ikeja

FAAN MD,George Uriesi(in grey T-shirt) chatting with men of the Immigration Service 

yesterday  during the opening of expanded Terminal at MMIA,Ikeja,Lagos.

The expanded terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos was yesterday opened for operations.

The extended Departure Hall features five  state –of-the-art screening machines and two  Body Scanners at each of the wings in addition to 30 new immigration counters. 

This was disclosed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati in A press statement.

A distinguishing feature of the new screening machines is the ability to detect explosive materials and potential threat items in real time with the lowest rate of false alarm. 

The introduction of the new immigration counters as against the previous nine has taken passenger facilitation to another level.

The extended Departure consists of 14 check-in counters, seven hand-luggage X-ray machines and eight walk-through body scanners at the E finger.

The facility is equipped with 11 toilet facilities for both male and female passengers, as well as disabled persons. The new extension comes with commercial offerings. These duty free shops will afford passengers the opportunity for last minute shopping,  refreshments and other conveniences in line with global standards and  recommended practices.

The improvements in physical extension of the passenger handling area is by one and a-half times or 150 per cent more than its previous size. 

Three new hi-tech conveyor systems have also been installed in this new section since early this year. Already, this has been easing the experience of passengers who now enjoy faster processing of their luggage and personal effects. 

The new conveyor systems can process the luggage of 1,000 passengers per hour. 

According to Dati, passenger " processing is now faster and the congestion has been eradicated in line with the Aviation Road map initiated by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah".

The on-going remodeling has led to an expansion of about 25% as against the former operational area, in expectation of the expected passenger growth.

The new facility is part of the strategy by the President Jonathan Goodluck to make Murtala Mohammed International Airport,  the preferred regional hub in the West African sub- region.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, who personally supervised the opening, expressed appreciation to Immigration, Customs  and other security organisations for their support.