Keyamo Launches Initiatives to Boost Service Delivery, Cleanliness at Nigerian Airports
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has introduced initiatives designed to enhance customer service and ensure operational excellence at Nigerian airports.
The measures, unveiled in Abuja, aim to improve service delivery, ensure environmental cleanliness, and hold airport managers accountable for maintaining high standards.
The initiatives, which focus on transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement, include the introduction of voluntary Special Airport Marshals, unscheduled inspections by the Minister, and consultations with stakeholders to strengthen airport supervision and performance.
As part of the new measures, the Minister will appoint voluntary Special Airport Marshals to monitor airport operations and hygiene.
These Marshals, drawn from journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and representatives of state governments, will conduct unannounced visits to airports nationwide.
Their findings will be reported directly to the Minister, bypassing traditional official channels. This approach is intended to create an additional layer of transparent supervision, ensuring that airport managers who receive maintenance allocations are held accountable.
“The role of the Special Airport Marshals is to provide independent assessments of staff conduct and the overall conditions of our airports, thereby bridging the gap between public expectations and operational realities,” the Minister stated.
To further reinforce the commitment to service excellence, Mr. Keyamo will personally lead monthly inspections of airports across the country.
These visits, conducted alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), key ministry officials, and members of the National Assembly’s Aviation Committees, will focus on operational efficiency and staff welfare.
During these inspections, the Minister will directly engage with airport staff, address their grievances, and encourage professionalism.
By participating in operational activities, the Minister aims to lead by example and demonstrate the government’s resolve to prioritise public service.
In a statement signed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Keyamo disclosed that in the coming weeks, the Ministry will consult with relevant stakeholders to identify and appoint volunteers for the Special Airport Marshal roles.
To ensure transparency, the names of the appointees will be made public.
“These initiatives reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the concerns of the travelling public and ensuring that Nigerian airports meet international standards of service and cleanliness,” said Mr. Keyamo.
With these reforms, the Ministry aims to create a world-class aviation sector in Nigeria, aligning with global best practices and fostering a culture of accountability.
