Lagos – Passenger traffic rose at the Domestic Terminals 1 and 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on Thursday ahead of the Yuletide festivities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) aviation correspondents observed an upsurge of out-bound and in-bound passengers at the airport as many travelled to various locations for the celebrations.
NAN reports that the Federal Government had declared Dec. 24, 25 and 28 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Maulud, Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
A visit to the MMIA2 revealed a long queue of outbound passengers at the Aero Contractors Airlines check-in counter.
A similar situation was seen at Arik Air check-in counter at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
However, the high numbers of travellers on the few available seats led to slight increment in air tickets at the airport.
An air ticket from Lagos to Kano, which used to sell for between N22, 500 and N27, 000, rose to about N35,000 in some cases.
Flights from Lagos to Abuja, which normally cost between N15, 000 and N26, 000, depending on the airline and the time of flight, also went for N30, 000 or more.
A businessman, Mr Tunde Alabi, told NAN that he was travelling to Abuja to spend the season with the members of his family.
“I wanted to leave yesterday (Wednesday) but there was no flight available. So, that is why I arrived very early in order not to miss my flight,’’ he said.
Another passenger, Mr Okechukwu Edeh, said he was going to the East with his family to enjoy the Yuletide with relatives.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Edeh said that his two young children have never gone to the village, adding that the Yuletide was an opportunity for them to bond with other family members.
Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured travellers that adequate security measures have been put in place at all airports to ensure their safety.
FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr Yakubu Dati, in a statement made available to NAN, wished the passengers a hitch-free travelling experience.
Dati said apart from the statutory security and safety measures already in place at the airports, members of the Bomb Detection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force have also been deployed to the airports.
He said this would complement the efforts of FAAN’s Aviation security personnel at the security screening points. (NAN)