Passengers and motorists using the international terminal at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) are increasingly incurring avoidable costs due to the continued closure of the designated pick-up and drop-off zone.
The situation has created hardship for airport users, who are now routinely compelled to pay N1,000 for parking, even when they only intend to drop off or pick up passengers, this is despite the fact that they had already paid between N500 and N1,000 at the main entrance gate
SolaceBase reports that ordinarily, the designated pick-up and drop-off area is meant to allow drivers to quickly stop, assist passengers with boarding or alighting, and leave without the need to enter the paid parking facility. However, with the access route to the zone blocked, motorists have no alternative but to use the parking lot.
This development has sparked concerns among airport users, many of whom describe the arrangement as exploitative and unnecessary.
“If the pick-up and drop-off point were open, I would simply stop for a minute, drop my passenger, and leave,” said Kabir Shehu, one frustrated motorist at the airport. “Instead, we are forced to pay parking fees even when we do not intend to park.”
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Another airport user, Musa Abba, noted that the practice places an unfair financial burden on families, taxi operators, and other visitors who frequently use the terminal.
The blocked access has effectively turned what should be a free and convenient passenger service into an additional source of revenue, raising questions about whether the arrangement is deliberately designed to compel airport users to pay parking charges.
Speaking to SolaceBase on Thursday, the regional manager of the airport, Musa Okikiri, said the airport management is already working toward reopening the drop-off zone.
Okikiri said additional traffic control measures would be introduced to ensure that motorists use the facility strictly for quick drop-offs and pick-ups.
“As soon as passengers are dropped off, vehicles will be expected to move immediately to allow others access,” he said.
He noted that managing traffic at the terminal remains a challenge, particularly during VIP movements, when convoys often occupy the space for extended periods.
According to him, some motorists remain in the drop-off area long after dropping off passengers, especially when accompanying VIPs, thereby causing avoidable congestion.
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He also explained that arrival periods pose unique traffic challenges, as many passengers exit the terminal at the same time, leading to a surge in vehicles seeking access to the pick-up area.
