Reclaim Encroached Land Around Lagos Airport, Expert Urges FG

An aviation security expert, Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), has called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently reclaim all residential buildings constructed on airport land around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA), Lagos, warning that the situation poses serious security risks.

In a chat with LEADERSHIP, Ojikutu also urged the federal government to reactivate critical aviation infrastructure, particularly the fuel pipeline linking Ejigbo to the airport depot.

The former secretary general of the Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI) stressed that all houses sharing perimeter fences with the airport — especially in Ejigbo, Mafoluku, Shasha, Egbeda and Bisam — should be reclaimed where they encroach on airport land.

According to him, the government must begin by restoring the water and fuel hydrant systems at MMA.

“FG should begin with the reactivation of the water and fuel hydrants at MMA. Reactivate the fuel pipeline from Ejigbo to the airport depot and further to the airport aircraft parking areas on the aprons,” he said.

Ojikutu further emphasised the urgent need for a reinforced security fence around the airport, noting that previous international audits had flagged the vulnerability.

“Where the perimeter fences cannot be sufficiently enhanced for airport security, a proper security fence is very necessary for MMA. This was recommended in the ICAO audits of 2004, which, to date, has not been implemented,” he stated.

He warned that failure to address these longstanding infrastructure and security gaps could expose the nation’s busiest airport to avoidable risks.