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FAAN defends Port Harcourt Int’l Airport over CNN’s ‘dirtiest’ rating

Portions of the Port Harcourt International Airport undergoing reconstruction
Portions of the Port Harcourt International Airport undergoing reconstruction

Following the recent rating of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagba, in Rivers State, as the dirtiest airport in the world by the CNN, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to the defence of the facility.

In a statement issued, Monday, FAAN described the grading as ‘unfounded’ as, according to it, the grading by CNN did not consider the remodelling of the facility currently ongoing.

“Our stand is that the said ranking was unfounded as it did not take cognisance of the fact that the airport terminal was still undergoing remodelling. Some of its terminal operations are still conducted in a temporary structure.”

The statement pointed out that the existing domestic terminal, from which both international and local flights were conducted, was undergoing remodelling.

“Apart from this, construction work is also in progress at the site of the new international terminal. We believe that operations at such an airport where construction work is going on simultaneously with normal flight and related operations cannot be as conducive as in those airports where there are no on-going construction projects.

“Neither can environments at such different scenarios be equally clean,” the statement added.

FAAN, in the statement, said it was aware of the ‘enormous challenges posed by the peculiar operational situation at the airport and had taken several measures to alleviate the difficulties faced by passengers and other airport users.’ According to the statement, one of such measures included closing down one of the tents and moving operations there to some sections of the remodelled terminal, even when work in those sections were not fully completed.

FAAN, therefore assured “all passengers, airline operators and other airport users that services at our airports are delivered at recommended international standards that ensure safety, security and comfort.

“While we regret any inconvenience experienced at these airports, including Port Harcourt International Airport, due to on-going construction projects, we promise that services at these airports will surely get better at the completion of these projects,” it said.

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