By Abigail Philip David
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced the creation of a team of Special Airport Marshals to enhance airport standards and monitor workers’ professionalism through unscheduled inspections across the country.
This initiative was revealed in a statement signed by Tunde Moshood, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, and made available on Thursday.
The statement explained that the special marshals will be drawn from diverse groups, including media professionals, representatives of state governors, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Their primary role will be to assess the professionalism of airport workers, ensure cleanliness, and align operations with passenger expectations.
Objective and Structure of the Initiative
The initiative seeks to establish higher standards of customer service and operational excellence at airports nationwide. Moshood highlighted that the marshals will conduct unscheduled visits to monitor staff conduct and evaluate environmental conditions. Findings from these inspections will be reported directly to Keyamo, who will issue directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to address any identified issues.
“This approach will complement official reports from airport managers with independent assessments from the voluntary marshals, adding a transparent layer of accountability,” Moshood noted.
Minister to Lead Independent Inspections
In addition to deploying special marshals, Keyamo and senior officials will personally visit airports unannounced to monitor operations and engage with workers. These visits will include senior ministry officials, FAAN management, and members of aviation committees from the Senate and House of Representatives.
During these inspections, the minister will actively participate in operational activities, address staff directly, and emphasize the importance of maintaining professionalism and courtesy in serving the public.
Moshood added that these measures aim to ensure that airport managers, who receive monthly allocations for maintenance, are held accountable for their responsibilities.
This proactive step underscores the government’s commitment to raising the standards of Nigeria’s airports and meeting the expectations of the traveling public.
