The much anticipated multi-level car park at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, supposed to begin operations Tuesday, has been suspended over safety concerns.
Henrietta Yakubu, acting general manager, FAAN, told BusinessDay that the car park, supposed to begin test run Tuesday was suspended because a part of the park was facing the airside, which could be dangerous.
“The test run started today but they have stopped it now because the top most level of the car park is directly facing the airside and the concessionaires were told to block it and they did not.
“This is not good for safety. For people to look at the airside from the car park is not too good for safety. The usage of the car park has been suspended until they comply with the rule,” Yakubu said.
This development is coming at a time airport users have complained of not being able to get enough space at the airport to park their vehicles, after the allotted parking spaces have been utilised.
It would be recalled that Yakubu Dati, the former general manager, public affairs, FAAN, said the multi-storey car park would accommodate over 1,500 vehicles.
BusinessDay’s checks show that the project is under Public Private Partnership by a concessionaire.
Dati said the project would complement other facilities at the premier gateway. The car park, he said, was conceived to improve facilitation at the airport where a new international terminal is under construction with the attendant increase in passenger and cargo traffic.
This is as FAAN Tuesday refuted a rumoured bomb scare at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
“At about 9:30am, an unattended bag was noticed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal, after the departure of the fourth flight for the intending pilgrims. The chief security officer of the FAAN, Hajj and Cargo Terminal as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit were contacted and began the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag.
“No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic among the second batch of intending pilgrims waiting.
“After detonation, it was discovered that the bag contained some copies of an Islamic guide meant for pilgrims to guide them with regards to their journey,” Henrietta Yakubu said.
She advised passengers to be cautious of their belongings, and ensure that all properties were securely kept.
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