The Southeast Governors’ Forum has called on the federal government to factor the expansion of the tarmac of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu into the rehabilitation of the airport.
The chairman of the forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi disclosed this in an interview in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa yesterday in Abuja.
He said the call had become imperative in order to accommodate bigger aircraft at the airport.
“I came to see him on behalf of our people on the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
“We are very happy with him for ordering the closure of the airport consequent to our letter to him to intervene and that closure has saved a lot of lives because if you land at that tarmac you will see that the tarmac was gone.
“We are aware it wasn’t constructed by the present administration but the tarmac became bad as soon as it was completed.
“So, we have discussed the timeline for the completion. We are all aware that towards December, we have a lot of heightened social-economic activities in South East and Enugu is our base – it’s our capital, what Kaduna is to the north, it’s what Enugu is to the South East.
“So, we pleaded with Mr. President for the extension of the tarmac so that it can accommodate bigger aircraft;
“We pleaded with Mr. President to do what he did when we had the same issue with Abuja International Airport, which he intervened in a number of ways.
“He provided a number of palliative like buses with escorts armed, provided helicopters (though the government didn’t pay for that but they paid for vehicles) which they did through a number of transport companies,” he said.
Umahi also urged the federal government to provide special funding to ensure speedy and timely completion of the airport project.
“I know that in the last administration we had to rehabilitate Port Harcourt International Airport and because it went through budgetary provisions it lasted for two years.
“But similar intervention by Mr. President in International Airport Abuja, he had to provide special funding and then it was later included in the budgetary provision and the fund was accordingly replaced.
“So, we are pleading for similar gesture for Enugu International Airport so that special funding could be given to the minister of aviation,” he added.
