Arise news analyst, Dayo Sobowale, has blamed poor planning and inadequate preparation for the disruption surrounding the recently introduced airport access policy, stating that the lapses in implementation forced President Bola Tinubu to intervene and suspend the policy following widespread complaints and operational difficulties experienced by airport users.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Sobowale criticised the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for failing to properly prepare for the rollout of the policy, stressing that agencies responsible for service delivery must ensure efficiency before introducing major changes to the public.
According to him, the agency failed to adequately prepare for the transition from a manual system to an electronic one, which led to avoidable disruptions at the airport. “You don’t do that with customer services. You don’t do that with service delivery, especially from an organization like the Airport Authority. They have not done their homework well,” he said.
Sobowale noted that while technological transitions often come with challenges, such problems should have been anticipated and addressed before implementation. He added that the situation became serious enough to attract presidential intervention.
“And it’s a pity the President had to intervene. If it were a private company, somebody would have been fired,” he stated.
Drawing from his professional experience, the analyst explained that the introduction of new technology requires careful preparation, including proper equipment testing, training of personnel and adaptation of systems to local conditions.
“My own experience is with the installation of ATMs in banks. I was a marketing manager in charge there and I had a lot of problems,” he said, explaining that institutions must ensure that equipment works effectively within Nigeria’s environment before deployment.
He stressed that agencies must conduct simulations and practical tests before introducing systems that affect a large number of people, particularly in high-pressure environments like airports.
“You have to simulate situations where you practice how this service delivery is going to come out. And you have glitches all the way until you perfect it,” Sobowale explained.
According to him, airport operations involve travellers working within strict schedules, making it necessary for service delivery systems to function smoothly from the start.
“You’re dealing with traffic on the highway to the airport, people are in a hurry to meet appointments and catch flights. If it does not move flawlessly, it will be apparent to the whole world,” he added.
Sobowale also recommended that authorities operate both manual and electronic systems simultaneously during the early stages of technological transitions in order to reduce disruption and give room for adjustments.
“They should apologize to people and do it simultaneously with the manual one, as they perfect the other side,” he said.
He further emphasised the need for public enlightenment and gradual implementation when introducing new technological systems in public services.
“It’s technology transfer, and it’s not automatic. It’s gradual it’s phase by phase, ” he explained.
The analyst also stressed that broader stakeholder engagement is essential when introducing policies that directly affect Nigerians, noting that inadequate consultation often leads to poor policy outcomes.
“The government is not separated from the people. The government provides service to the people and the service has failed, ” he said.
Sobowale maintained that the disruption reflects inefficiencies in public service delivery and warned that government agencies must prioritise proper planning and execution in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Triumph Ojo
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