Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was on Sunday reopened for both local and international flights, after it was shut down on August 24, 2019, for a comprehensive rehabilitation of the runway and other facilities,
Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, said domestic flights should commence immediately.
He hinted that the airport may be added to the list of those about to be concessioned. For this reason, attention will now shift to speedily completing the international terminal of the airport.
The minister disclosed that there are committees working hard to give out management of the international gateways at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano
He said efforts will be made to complete other outstanding project tasks, at the airport’s gateways approved for international operations from 5 September.
Sirika expressed absolute gratitude to Buhari “for giving approval of N10 billion to undertake rehabilitation of the runway and other works, which include taxi way, link way, emergency operation centre, car park, entrance gate, perimeter fencing, perimeter wall, terminal rehabilitation, instrument landing system to allow landing even in bad weather, among others”.
Sirika maintained that the federal government “has delivered the project on time and on budget and will focus on delivering the Cargo terminal and the international terminal building and many more”, disclosing that “just before I left my office, I have approved and released the sum of N1 billion to continue the international terminal building”.
He commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for the “unwavering support and assistance he has given to us in the course of this project”.
According to him, the federal government has “delivered the project on time and will focus on delivering the Cargo terminal and the international terminal buildings and many more”.
The Minister lauded Ugwuanyi for his “unwavering support and the assistance he has given to us in the course of this project”.
Speaking, President General, Ohaneze ndii Igbo (Worldwide), commended Ugwuanyi for his exceptional commitment, resilience and sacrifice towards the actualization of the project.
He described the event as a dream come true, commending the South East governors for their individual and collective s to the completion of the project.
Nwodo thanked the Minister for his untiring efforts in ensuring that the airport runway was rehabilitated to an international standard and one of the best in the country, against all challenges.
Speaking respectively,, the former Deputy Senate president and senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Geoffrey Onyeama, thanked President Buhari and the South East Governors, especially Ugwuanyi for their efforts in reopening of the airport, which they said, will go a long way to enhancing commercial activities in the zone, and safety of air travelers
They appealed to the federal government to ensure that the ongoing construction of the Cargo terminal and International wing of the airport were also completed as scheduled.
Speaking on behalf of the South East Governors; the chairman of the South East governors forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi thanked President Buhari for approving a special fund (N10 billion) for the rehabilitation of the airport.
He commended the Minister of Aviation, for displaying a special character worthy of emulation, in seeing that the project was realized.
Umahi also thanked Ugwuanyi for his outstanding commitment and the courage he displayed in ensuring that all the requests made by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the resolution of the SEGF with regard to safety measures, were implemented to the letter.
“Governor of Enugu State, we can’t thank you enough. You made the job of all the South-East Governors so easy; you undertook to do it alone. Thank you for the courage in removing all the illegal structures affecting the safety of air travellers. Thank you for the road you built and other infrastructure, logistics support and daily supervision you offered in this place. Mr. Governor (Ugwuanyi) we are very grateful to you, thank you very much”.
Earlier, Ugwuanyi commended Buhari for the infrastructural upgrade of the airport.
He disclosed that Enugu State Government, in its determination to provide the enabling environment and needed support to ensure the quick completion of rehabilitation works, undertook and provided the required support.
According to him, the support includes, complete removal of all encroachment on the airport facility; removal and relocation of the 120-meter Enugu State Broadcasting Service TV/Radio Mast and Transmission Station; removal, demolition and relocation of the Orie Emene market; construction of a 1.3km asphalt road to the Very High Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (V.O.R/D.M.E) navigation facility at Emene; Provision of finance for the upgrade and refurbishment of existing toilet facility in the terminal building, among others.
Ugwuanyi, who noted that it was indeed an enormous sacrifice on the part of the government and good people of Enugu State, pointed out that it was a sacrifice worth the while, with the historic event of the reopening of the newly rehabilitated airport.
The governor stated that the project was a clear testimony to President Buhari’s determination to “rebuild the nation through the provision of critical infrastructure, to stimulate economic growth and development of the Nigerian nation”.
He commended the South East governors, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Sirika and other stakeholders, for their efforts and commitment to the actualization of the project.
Dignitaries at the event include the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano , Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Imo State Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prince Arthur Eze, members of the National Assembly from the zone, the Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and others.
