The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced plans to deploy volunteer Special Airport Marshals to improve accountability, cleanliness, and employee conduct at Nigerian airports.
Keyamo’s special adviser on media and communications, Tunde Moshood, announced on Thursday that the marshals will be independent, public-spirited persons recruited from a variety of sectors, including the media, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and state governor representatives.
“These marshals will conduct unscheduled visits to airports across the country to monitor staff behaviour and assess hygiene and overall conditions,” the statement said.
The marshals will report directly to the minister, bypassing the routine reports from airport managers.
This, Keyamo believes, will add a transparent layer of supervision to ensure effective utilization of funds allocated for airport maintenance.
“With this initiative, the Honourable Minister will no longer rely solely on official reports from Airport Managers but will also consider independent observations from these voluntary Special Airport Marshals,” the statement added.
Keyamo emphasised that the project intends to hold airport administrators accountable for their responsibilities, hence improving the entire travel experience for passengers. Unplanned Inspections and Stakeholder Involvement To supplement the marshals’ efforts, Keyamo intends to undertake unscheduled monthly airport inspections around the country.
He will be joined by key stakeholders, including the ministry’s permanent secretary, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), senior directors, and members of aviation committees from the Senate and House of Representatives.
“During these visits, the Honourable Minister will personally participate in various operational activities, demonstrating leadership and emphasizing the value of diligent service,” Moshood stated.
During these trips, Keyamo plans to interact directly with airport staff to resolve their problems and promote professionalism in service delivery. Transparent Selection Process. Moshood said that the marshals’ appointments would be made in a transparent manner, with the names of selected individuals made public.
“The minister will soon engage stakeholders to appoint suitable volunteers for the special airport marshal roles, ensuring they align with the vision for improved airport management,” he said.
The initiative underscores Keyamo’s commitment to raising service standards at Nigerian airports to meet the expectations of both domestic and international travellers.
