Expanded Terminal opens at Lagos airport.

Passengers flying through the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos to other parts of the
world were giving a pleasant Xmas surprise with
the opening of the new departure/screening points
of the terminal at about 6.00 am on Saturday,
December 21, 2013.

The extended Departure Hall feature 5 nos state –
of-the-art screening machines and 2 nos Body
Scanner at each of the wings in addition 30 nos
new immigration counters. A distinguishing feature
of the new screening machines is the ability to
detect explosive materials and potential threat
items real time with the lowest rate of false alarm.

The introduction of 30 nos new immigration
counters as against the previous 9 nos 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 a
1,000 passengers per hour. 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 ongoing 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 operation expressed
appreciation to Immigration, Customs and other
security organisations for their support.