The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, has emphasized the need for increased private sector involvement in airport operations across the country.

She also highlighted the importance of transparency, better staff welfare, and urgent reforms to boost revenue generation.

During a stakeholder meeting in Abuja, Kuku reassured participants that both the Minister of Aviation and the President are fully committed to a transparent and credible concession process.

“My position is that for this organisation which is being forwarded, we need private sector participation. But I also agree with you that there has to be transparency in the process,” she said.

“The one thing that I can assure you is that between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and President Bola Tinubu himself, he fully agrees that in the concession of these airports, we need to think about it realistically. So not just the individual airports.”

She stated that the Minister of Aviation had personally pledged not to proceed until all outstanding concerns are fully addressed.

“In fact, the Minister and I had a conversation where we were discussing another issue. And I had mentioned to him that I’m aware that there are some issues that have not been answered. And he said very clearly that I will not move forward until all of those issues have been addressed. “If there are issues, they should be brought to my attention,” he said.

“Which I mentioned to the legal advisor, and she’s doing so. So please know that you have the assurances of the Honourable Minister who’s championing this process and has said until the issues are resolved, he will not move forward.”

On staff conditions of service, Kuku acknowledged the delay in submission but assured that the process was being finalised.

He explained, “On the conditions of service, I am indeed aware that FAAN has not yet submitted. I would like to take my time to have a better understanding. And we had a couple of meetings which the union participated in where we reviewed the conditions of service. I believe that the final version is now coming back to me from human resources.

“The DHR actually mentioned that it was coming back to me this week for onwards submission to the ministry.”

The FAAN Managing Director also condemned the poor condition of medical facilities at airports, describing them as “deplorable.”

“The state of the medical facility is deplorable. It is totally unacceptable for what we’re running today. We’ve had conversations, and we have a plan that I’m currently reviewing because I tasked the GM Medical to provide a turnaround plan for our facilities, which she has submitted. “There is a team that is looking at it,” she noted.

“We’re also exploring the hospitals that were initially built by the ministry to see what we can do. We understand there are some where they’re close to completion. There are others where they have equipment, to see if we can have specialised centres in some of those locations,” she added.

She further stated that reputable hospitals were being considered for partnership to improve healthcare services for staff.

She also highlighted significant gaps in logistics and infrastructure, citing the absence of operational vehicles in many airports and poor housing conditions in staff quarters.

“I’ve gone across the airport, and I’ve also seen that a lot of airports do not have operational vehicles at all, especially critical departments… So that’s one of the tasks that they have, and of course, I’m sure you will see that happen in the next couple of weeks.

“The same for the staff quarters. The engineering team, along with the GM estate, have compiled staff quarters for review across all the airports because I’ve told them it’s not just HQ; it’s not just Lagos. I see Benin City; the staff quarters are leaking; there are people putting buckets under.”

She also addressed the issue of casual employment, expressing concern over the unchecked recruitment of casual workers without proper approvals.