Now This Is An Airport!, Read A Personal Assessment Of The New Abuja Airport

If you ask anyone about Nigerian Airport and also the immigration officers in Nigeria, they will have tons of stories to tell! From airports that are not friendly to poor toilet facilities to rude officers who demand money and lack courtesy. Ever since the remodeled Abuja Airport and massive outcry about the immigration behavior at the counter, lots seem to have changed especially the edifice which was recently commissioned by Pres. Buhari and it seems the immigration officers are in check if their excesses now.

Dr. Joe Abah traveled out of the country and he used the Abuja Airport, the first time since it was opened for business and he has this to say!

According to a series of tweets, he commended the management, read his tweets below…

Good afternoon. I have some good news. The new Abuja International Airport terminal is…mind-blowing! As we alighted from the aircraft into the glass tunnel, you know that smell that usually hits you when you land in Nigeria? It wasn’t there. The AC in the tunnel worked. Thread.

It’s real, guys. This is Naija. I had arrived on Ethiopian Airlines with my work colleague, Duke, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time ever. Duke said “Wow! Now this is an airport!” We had come in from the dreadful Addis Ababa Bole Airport. I just said “Yeah.”

I didn’t feel the need to tell Duke it was new…until he asked. Boarding gates were spacious and nicely laid out. Comfortable waiting areas. Very clear signage everywhere. Yep! I checked: The clock displayed the right time. I was proud.

Yep! The automatic thermo-imaging machines work. This young man triggered a red image and was immediately pulled to one side.

Toilets were clean and had toilet rolls in them. No pit latrines here unlike Idu Train Terminal. The wash basins were clean. Trust me nau, I tried the automatic soap dispenser. It worked.

Immigration was a joyful experience. I said “Good afternoon” to the pretty immigration officer and she said “Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome back home.” She stamped me in and said “Next!” That was it. The queue for Nigerians moved much faster than that of foreigners. As it should!

You take your own trolley. No porters here. I counted 5 conveyor belts. I think they could have spread out each belt a bit more, but it was okay. Our luggage was out exactly 20 minutes after we touched down! That’s disembarking, clearing immigration, trolley & then luggage. Wow!

Apart from my baby boyhood and my Ezemmuo-ness? No o. Nothing to declare.

Then we were stopped by Customs! One stopped me and one stopped my friend Duke and asked what was in our bags. I said “I have brought him to Nigeria for the very first time.” They asked me “Oh, is he with you? I said “Yes.” They said “Ok you can go.”

I was a bit miffed that they didn’t say “Welcome to Nigeria” to Duke. Anyway, this sign made me feel better. That I could see a sign to the Metro from a Nigerian airport? Great! Yes, we should worry about maintenance. For me, I’ll just enjoy it today and be proud! Thanks!!

What’s your take?