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November 21, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, has unveiled new initiatives including the appointment of Special Airport Marshals, to enhance service delivery and environmental cleanliness at Nigerian airports.
A press statement issued by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, said the the new initiatives are part of critical need for the nation’s airports to meet the highest standards of customer service and operational excellence.
The new initiatives include the appointment of voluntary Special Airport Marshals, unscheduled visits by the Minister to the airports and stakeholders consultation.
The statement said, “The Minister, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, will appoint voluntary Special Airport Marshals who are resident in cities where airports are located.
“These Marshals, comprising public-spirited individuals drawn from members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and representatives of State Governors, will conduct unscheduled visits to the airports. Their role will be to monitor staff conduct and assess the general hygiene and conditions of the airports.
“The voluntary Special Airport Marshals shall report directly to the Honourable Minister, who will issue necessary directives to FAAN based on their findings.
“With this initiative, the Honourable Minister will no longer rely solely on official reports from Airport Managers but will also consider independent observations from these voluntary Special Airport Marshals.
“This will bring an additional transparent layer of supervision to our airports as it will ensure that Airport Managers who receive monthly allocations for airport maintenance are held accountable for their responsibilities.
“The Honourable Minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Managing Director of FAAN, key directors of the Ministry and FAAN, and members of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation, will conduct unscheduled monthly inspections of airports nationwide. During these visits, the Honourable Minister will personally participate in various operational activities, demonstrating leadership and emphasizing the value of diligent service. The Honourable Minister will also address airport staff, hear their complaints and encourage them to uphold professionalism and serve the public courteously.
“Over the coming weeks, the Honourable Minister will engage stakeholders in consultations to identify and appoint suitable volunteers for the Special Airport Marshal roles. The 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.”
