The minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika has assuerd that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu which is undergoing rehabilitation would be delivered before Easter.
It would be recalled that the airport was closed to aircraft and passenger traffic for repairs on August 24 while President Muhammadu Buhari approved N10 billion its rehabilitation on October 17.
Sirika who inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the runway yesterday told journalists in an interview at the end of the tour that he was satisfied with the progress of work.
“What is my assessment? Honestly, I am very satisfied with the work according to the work approved. We are beating the deadline. We are bringing the runway before Easter.
“We are confident that the contractors, Messrs PW, are capable of delivering this procurement. This is not the only job they have handled, as they are currently doing some work in Lagos too and have a lot of experience when it comes to runway construction.
“We take this job seriously, knowing that the future of this country cannot be mortgaged so if assignment is given it should be delivered. This is not the first terminal handled and I guarantee you by the time we are done with Enugu, you will be proud of what we have done at the airport. They will get the runway in time for Easter festivities.
“We know the importance of this airport to the South-east,” the minister said.
The minister said apart from the runway and terminal building, where work was also going on, critical equipment such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Air Field Lighting (AFL), approach lights, taxi lights, aerodrome markings and other facilities would be completed before the reopening date.
On the international terminal building at the airport funded by the federal government, Sirika directed the Chinese project manager, Mr. Toby Luo, to ensure all procurements are in and the terminal delivered in 2020.
“The terminal building is not part of the loans procured from the Chinese, which Lagos and the others got but funding for this building is by the federal government and we will deliver this terminal building,” he stressed.
For her part, the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, stressed the importance of the airport to the people of the southeast geo-political zone and beyond, said the state government remained committed to the timely completion of the project.
“The importance of this airport has come to bear with the closure. The impact is felt by the South-east and South-south and we will do everything to make sure it is reopened,” she said.
Also speaking, the chairman, house committee on aviation, Mr. Nnolim Nnaji, said national assembly “has fulfilled its part in the execution of the project.”
He added that “what remains remaining is its oversight functions to ensure that the airport renovation is completed to standard for its reopening as promised by the federal government.”
Apart from Nnaji and Ezeilo, Sirika was accompanied on the tour by the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, Nigerian representative at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Mr. Ben Tukur, and Enugu State commissioner for Works and infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji.
