Passengers flying through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to other parts of the world were giving a pleasant Xmas surprise with the opening of the new departure/screening points of the terminal at about 6.00 am on Saturday, December 21, 2013.
The extended Departure Hall features five state-of-the-art screening machines and two Body Scanner at each of the wings in addition 30 new immigration counters. According to Yakubu Dati, coordinating spokesman, aviation parastatal, the distinguishing feature of the new screening machines is their ability to detect explosive materials and potential threats real time with the lowest rate of false alarm. Dati said that the introduction of 30 new immigration counters as against the previous nine has taken passenger facilitation to another level.
The extended departure consists of 14 check-in counters, seven hand-luggage X-ray machines and eight walk-through body scanners at the E finger. The facility is equipped with 11 toilets for both male and female passengers, as well as disabled persons. The new extension comes with commercial offerings such as duty free shops, which will afford passengers the opportunity for last minute shopping, refreshments and other conveniences in line with global standards and recommended practices.
“The improvements in physical extension of the passenger handling area is by one and a-half times or 150 per cent more than its previous size. Three new hi-tech conveyor systems have also been installed in this new section since early this year. Already, this has been easing the experience of passengers who now enjoy faster processing of their luggage and personal effects. The new conveyor systems can process the luggage of a 1,000 passengers per hour. Passenger processing is now faster and the congestion has been eradicated in line with the Aviation Road map initiated by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah,” explained Dati.
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