Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo has rolled out a series of measures aimed at addressing the expectation of the travelling public who utilise airports across the country to push for enhanced service delivery and the environmental conditions of the facilities.

The new move, a statement according to the minister’s spokesman, Mr Tunde Moshood said is in recognition of the critical need to meet highest standards of customer service and operational excellence.

To drive this, Keyamo has taken key decisions including the appointment of voluntary special airport marshals, unscheduled visits to airports nationwide as well as engagement with industry stakeholders.

The statement read: “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 Organizations (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 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 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 minister will personally participate in various operational activities, demonstrating leadership and emphasizing the value of diligent service. The 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 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.”