Source:pointblanknews.com

Abuja , September 21, 2010 . The Federal Ministry of Aviation announces today the approval by the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, for the upgrade of Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu to an International Status. This brings to (5) five the number of major and active international airports in the country.

The Akanu Ibiam Airport is very strategic to the Economies of the South Eastern States and the nation in general. It is the fourth (4 th) busiest airport in the country after Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Port Harcourt Airport. Akanu Ibiam airport accounts for an annual passenger traffic of about 30% of the total national passenger traffic.

In her remarks, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze underscored the significance of the airport to the South East Region which has witnessed remarkable economic growth in recent years. She highlighted the fact that “a large proportion of businesses in the region are of international dimension. With this upgrade, international travelers will be saved the added cost of going to Lagos or Port Harcourt to travel. Additionally, the safety of lives and property will be better guaranteed as less time will be spent on the roads”

The upgrade comes with extension of the runway, remodeling of the terminal building and other facilities at the airport.

The approval and upgrade is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s determination to arrest the infrastructural breakdown at the country’s airports. Five key airports are in the process of being reconstructed and remodeled in the first phase. These include, the construction of four new terminals at Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu as well as the expansion and massive upgrade and remodeling of the Murtala Muhammed Terminal in Lagos.

The upgrade project at Akanu Ibiam Airport has commenced, the project execution is progressing according to plan and expected to be completed as scheduled.

It will be recalled that the airport was closed on February 15, this year for work to begin on the runway expansion

That's just the kind of news I love to hear, by the grace of God we can fly directly home with out having to go through that filthy Lagos.

^^^^^^

Filthy Lagos? When last have you been there?

good news

and you guys said GEJ was just a pawn on OBJs chess boards.
I still got my chips on Ribadu, though.

^^
Do you have a problem with Enugu becoming an international airport?

No
I'm just saying that while some people said GEJ was just a toy, he's proving to be a rather progressive individual
and that I still think Ribadu might have a bit more to offer.
Maybe

Where did they get the story of it accounting for 30% of total national passengers? Let the Government upgrade it to that status but they should stop telling lies about the percentage that flies to that airport. I doubt if it has as much traffic as Kano.

hercules07:

Where did they get the story of it accounting for 30% of total national passengers? Let the Government upgrade it to that status but they should stop telling lies about the percentage that flies to that airport. I doubt if it has as much traffic as Kano.

Good of you to notice that!

http://www.faannigeria.org/downloads/statistics/2009-Annual-Aircraft-Movement.pdf

http://www.faannigeria.org/downloads/statistics/2009-Annual-Passenger-Traffic.pdf

^^^
Didn't know there's Sokoto, Maidugri, Yola, Minna international airports

Kobojunkie:

Good of you to notice that!

http://www.faannigeria.org/downloads/statistics/2009-Annual-Aircraft-Movement.pdf

http://www.faannigeria.org/downloads/statistics/2009-Annual-Passenger-Traffic.pdf

Though I doubt very much the 30% claim, but you think a one-off statistics is the answer? Do a cumulative (over-time analysis). Enugu airport has been closed down since this year for repairs and flight activities there actually began winding down since last year.

[size=15pt]ROFLMAO!!! [/size]

up Jonathan the ijaw man.
good news for my igbo cousins.

Simple mathematics says that it is not possible, if only Enugu Airport accounts for 30% of flights, that means 1/3 of all flights in Nigeria land in Enugu, they should stop that nonsense, that airport closes by 4pm to flights. Its number of flights might even be less than that of Owerri and Benin not to talk of Kano.

So apparently the 4th busiest airport in Nigeria accounts for 30% of all national passenger traffic?

Someone didn't pay attention in math class

@topic
Good news indeed for Enugu State.

Another white elephant, all in the name of the upcoming election to capture S/E votes

Jonathan is proving to be playing dirtier than his drum master OBJ.

texazzpete:

So apparently the 4th busiest airport in Nigeria accounts for 30% of all national passenger traffic?

Someone didn't pay attention in math class

@topic
Good news indeed for Enugu State.

FG no sabi ordinary simplify! The timing for this propaganda go tell u say GEJ dey desperate

Another campaign strategy

@labiyemmy:

^^^^^^

Filthy Lagos? When last have you been there?

Yes filthy Lagos, last year when I was down there it was filthy, and the mosquitoes you'll have in Lagos don't have any respect for humans.
when our Enugu Airport is completed we won't have to go through your filthy Town.

Freewilly:

Yes filthy Lagos, last year when I was down there it was filthy, and the mosquitoes you'll have in Lagos don't have any respect for humans.
when our Enugu Airport is completed we won't have to go through your filthy Town.

Honestly, Lagos state should declare a state of emergency on Mosquitoes.

Lagos Mosquitoes na something else. To deny that will be like denying that the pope is a catholic

janus05:

Jonathan is proving to be playing dirtier than his drum master OBJ. FG no sabi ordinary simplify! The timing for this propaganda go tell u say GEJ dey desperate

And since when did pointblanknews.com become Jonathan?
All dis kain "cut and nail" graduates sef!

@topic
Nice one for Enugu. There will be some spillover with fixing the roads that serve the airport. This is quite a big deal!

Lagos airport both aerial view when landing,with airport officials begging for money is a shame to nigeria.

[size=16pt]Nigeria don dey better

Nigeria don dey better

Nigeria don dey better

Since Goodluck don dey lead

Nigeria don dey better [/size]

I can't wait to use this airport. The airport and the town will simply shoot off!

Freewilly:

Yes filthy Lagos, last year when I was down there it was filthy, and the mosquitoes you'll have in Lagos don't have any respect for humans.
when our Enugu Airport is completed we won't have to go through your filthy Town.

Meaning your own part where you live is filthy - try live somewhere better.

hercules07:

Simple mathematics says that it is not possible, if only Enugu Airport accounts for 30% of flights, that means 1/3 of all flights in Nigeria land in Enugu, they should stop that nonsense, that airport closes by 4pm to flights. Its number of flights might even be less than that of Owerri and Benin not to talk of Kano.

In as much as I agree that 30% is on high side, i sincerely disagree that the airport close by 4pm. before the closure in febraury, I use that airport. on two occasion in Jan we landed 7.45pm.

Good for Enugu.

Hopefully in the near future we'll have our own international Airport in Onitsha.

Good for Enugu. I can't wait to land in Enugu from US. 042!!!!

Onitsha International Airport? If the HWYs are fixed upgraded u can make it to Enugu in less than 30 minutes to catch ur flight. What Onitsha needs is a SeaPort. Asaba already has an Airport and its next door to Onitsha.

Each election every govt says that.

population is the reason why lagos airport is working. akure airport should be made an international airport.

hercules07:

Simple mathematics says that it is not possible, if only Enugu Airport accounts for 30% of flights, that means 1/3 of all flights in Nigeria land in Enugu, they should stop that nonsense, that airport closes by 4pm to flights. Its number of flights might even be less than that of Owerri and Benin not to talk of Kano.

Well it's not less than that of Owerri nor Kano, and is older than both of them. The minister is correct by saying that the Enugu Airport is the 4th busiest airport in the nation. Lagos airport is busiest, followed by Abuja, and then PHC. Lagos and Abuja have significant International and Domestic operations, where as PHC has a significant domestic figure. Afterwards, Enugu's domestic traffic follows.

Furthermore, the minister's speech is all POLITICS.

OBJ said the same dammm thang as far back as 1999, and again in 2003. Even Ken Nnamani as senate President revealed this info during his boring tenure. Its as if Enugu aiport has been approved 6 times to be an "INTERNATIONAL" airport, yet no KLM, Air France, nor South African Air has landed or contract been negotiated.

Until those from that state or region have a serious mechanism to follow thru with the looooong wait for the airport to actually join the world ranks of JFK and MMIA, then it's a wait and see game.

No city/region can be considered world class without an international airport