Derelict Aircraft Not Removed Will Be Sold At Auction, Authorities Say

There is an airplane boneyard near Murtala Muhammed Airport in Nigeria where several planes have been abandoned by their owners. Last week the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) informed the owners of those airplanes that they have to have them off the airport property in seven days, or they will be auctioned by FAAN, in accordance with ICAO rules.

The edict was revealed by Director of Airport Operations Henry Omeogu during a safety inspection of a terminal at the airport.

The newspaper Post Nigeria reports that Omeogu said that the abandoned airplanes have created safety issues both with the aircraft and at the terminal.

The paper reports that there are no fewer than 65 abandoned airplanes at airports around the country, which is against the country's safety rules. Some at Murtala Muhammed Airport have been in the boneyard since 2005, according to Omeogu. He said that such abandoned aircraft could serve as bases for criminal activities.

FAAN has already issued a public notice to the owners of the airplanes informing them of their deadline for clearing the planes from the airport property.

FMI: www.faannigeria.org