House of Reps calls for urgent rehabilitation of Enugu Airport

Fri, Oct 11, 2019
By publisher
2 MIN READ

Aviation

THE South east caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure immediate commencement of work at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The group stressed the need to ensure speedy rehabilitation of the airport.

The caucus in a communiqué made available to Realnews mandated the House Committee on Aviation to interface with the minister of aviation to ensure immediate commencement of work at the airport. They also called on the federal ministry of works and housing at the interim to expedite repairs of the major roads leading to the alternative routes and airports to alleviate the suffering of members of the public.

The group expressed concern that the closure of the airport has exposed the travelling public to avoidable inconveniences and frustrated their ease of doing business. They are also convinced that the funding model for the renovation of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja would save Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu from protracted closure.

According to them, Akanu Ibiam International Airport is critical to the safety, economic and social lives of most Nigerians and foreign travellers in the region.

It will be recalled that on August 24, 2019, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, closed down Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to allow for rehabilitation work on the runway. The Minister of Aviation, Hardi Sirika also visited Enugu and after a meeting with governors and stakeholders in the South East, affirmed that the rehabilitation would be completed by Christmas 2019.

“Alarmed that six weeks after closure of the airport, no rehabilitation or reconstruction work has begun at the airport even as there are no indications that the contractor would mobilize to site any time soon. Concerned that the major arterial routes leading to other alternate airports or leading to the southeast have dilapidated and burdens the travelling public. Disturbed that in spite of the December 2019 deadline which is fast approaching, no contractor has been mobilized to the site and no fund released for the rehabilitation works,” the group said.

The communiqué was sponsored by Toby Okechukwu; Nkeiruka Onyejocha; Pat Asadu Oziokoja; Ofor Chukwuegbo; Amadi Oguerinwa Dennis; Oke Martins; Nnaji Prince Cornelius, and Simeon Atigwe. Others are Blessing Onuh; Uko Nkole; Darlington Nwokocha; Valentine Ayika; Francis Ottah Agbo, and Benjamin B. Mzondu.

 

-Oct 11, 2019 @14:10 GMT |

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