Ahead of the commencement of airlift of Muslim pilgrims in Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has upgraded facilities at the Hajj terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to guarantee smooth facilitation of pilgrims heading to the holy land in Saudi Arabia.
Announcing the latest development at the dedicated Pilgrims/Cargo Terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, FAAN revealed that the upgrade had to happen to give pilgrims the feel of what they will be getting at their destination.
Speaking after a tour of facilities at the Hajj Camp Terminal, FAAN’s Pilgrims/Cargo Manager, Adedayo Alale, said that the facility currently has split amenities for both men and women, and it is large enough to accommodate more than 6,000 pilgrims.
As the 2025 Hajj begins today, May 9, Adedayo revealed that new scanning machines and walk-through metal detectors have been installed for personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Department of State Services, Aviation Security Personnel, and other agencies involved in the processing of pilgrims. He confirmed that the machines and detectors have also been fitted with the required equipment to guarantee comfort for intending pilgrims.
Apart from the screening facilities, Alale disclosed that signages have also been installed at the terminal to educate the pilgrims on the list of prohibited items to avoid, and other protocols expected of them when they get to the Holy Land.
“First and foremost, you can see the total refurbishment of the building under the leadership of Olubunmi Kuku. It is now I believe and realise that what a man can do, a woman can do better. She has proven to the whole world that she is capable of leading this organisation. I have been in this organisation for several years and we haven’t had such facelift on airport facilities.
You can see we have phased out the old old screening machines and replaced them with modern ones and they are all working perfectly. We have installed several air conditions that would make the terminal conclusive for passengers while they await their flights.
The terminal has a linguistics team that can communicate with pilgrims in different languages, including local languages, to ensure that everyone is informed and guided throughout the process,” he said.
Confirming that modern amenities like air conditioning, LED displays, and CCTV cameras have been installed at the terminal to track and guarantee security across the premises, Adedayo announced that users will even get to enjoy its contactless processes, which include automated machines, to reduce interactions between pilgrims and staff.
“As you can see, everywhere we are prepared for this year’s hajj. We are 100 percent ready as far as operations are concerned.The entire facility has been refurbished under the new leadership in FAAN. Now I believe whatever a man can do, even a woman will do better. The new management has proven to the world that there is capacity to deliver. The equipment profile in place in terms of air conditioners, screening machines is top notch. The standard of the facilities have improved,” the terminal manager added.
