The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said that the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, will be opened for local and international commercial flights before Christmas.

Speaking on Channels Television, the minister said that work was ongoing and if there was sufficient funding to complete repairs on the dilapidated runway, the Federal government would reopen it before Christmas.

“Work is ongoing. If everything is equal and we get all of the funding, we intend to reopen it before Christmas. Work does not necessarily mean the bringing of equipment into the airport to begin the reconstruction of that particular airport or runway; work entails the planning, mobilising people for work and the actual work itself. The planning is even more important than the work itself because when you plan very well, you succeed.

“This runway closed itself because it actually failed and we kept trying to get it to function very well but it kept failing on a daily basis. We were very afraid that what happened in Port Harcourt many years ago could happen on this runway because in Port Harcourt, it was failing and the then Ministry of Aviation was doing the best they could to keep the runway safe, but unfortunately, the runway started to fail like mad and when Air France landed, it got stuck. It took two years and a half to get the runway back to function properly.



“Every airport will have its maintenance programme with the facility management and then set things in place now so as to be able to do maintenance as at when due and if it needs total resurfacing and reconstruction , we would do all of that,” Sirika said.

Following regulatory framework to shut down the Akanu Ibiam airport, the Federal government announced in May that the airport would be closed and domestic flights would be diverted to Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, while international flights would be diverted to Port Harcourt.

The Federal government through the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), issued a shutdown date on August 24, 2019, for rehabilitation of the runway and upgrade of its facilities to meet international standard.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/enugu-airport-ready-before-christmas-aviation-minister/amp/

GEJ ONLY NAMED THIS AIRPORT "INTERNATIONAL

BUHARI IS UPGRADING IT TO REAL "INTERNATIONAL " AND PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT SATISFIED


WHEN BUHARI DOES GOOD NNAMDI KANU WILL CALL HIM JUBRIL

IF HE DOES BAD, HE BECOMES BUHARI


"KONFUS GAD'MAKWA" NDI BANYI

I am really impressed with this aviation minister Hadi Sirika and his attitude towards Igbos.

God bless you sir. Please never mind that useless Amaechi who forgets his root for a pot of soup.

Let's be watching, no be today

Correct! What ever will CE out of east or south.am most please. More please.

Correct! What ever will Come out of east or south am most please. More please.

Okay.

Nice one.

If only Lai MOHAMMED feet dey serious like this man, people for no hate am too much..

Now many sees him as the most lai laiyer laiyest
in the world

Enugu now fully in God's hands.

mrakeli62:
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said that the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, will be opened for local and international commercial flights before Christmas.

Speaking on Channels Television, the minister said that work was ongoing and if there was sufficient funding to complete repairs on the dilapidated runway, the Federal government would reopen it before Christmas.

“Work is ongoing. If everything is equal and we get all of the funding, we intend to reopen it before Christmas. Work does not necessarily mean the bringing of equipment into the airport to begin the reconstruction of that particular airport or runway; work entails the planning, mobilising people for work and the actual work itself. The planning is even more important than the work itself because when you plan very well, you succeed.

“This runway closed itself because it actually failed and we kept trying to get it to function very well but it kept failing on a daily basis. We were very afraid that what happened in Port Harcourt many years ago could happen on this runway because in Port Harcourt, it was failing and the then Ministry of Aviation was doing the best they could to keep the runway safe, but unfortunately, the runway started to fail like mad and when Air France landed, it got stuck. It took two years and a half to get the runway back to function properly.



“Every airport will have its maintenance programme with the facility management and then set things in place now so as to be able to do maintenance as at when due and if it needs total resurfacing and reconstruction , we would do all of that,” Sirika said.

Following regulatory framework to shut down the Akanu Ibiam airport, the Federal government announced in May that the airport would be closed and domestic flights would be diverted to Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, while international flights would be diverted to Port Harcourt.

The Federal government through the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), issued a shutdown date on August 24, 2019, for rehabilitation of the runway and upgrade of its facilities to meet international standard.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/enugu-airport-ready-before-christmas-aviation-minister/amp/

continue to extent it becos of money u want to pocket

I hope so

Ok. That's good.

alabimustcry:
continue to extent it becos of money u want to pocket

One illiterate who didn't read the story sighted.

Thank God o
Just that the noise from the aircraft is killing us. Tho we enjoy the light from the airport

SpecialAdviser:
I am really impressed with this aviation minister Hadi Sirika and his attitude towards Igbos.

God bless you sir. Please never mind that useless Amaechi who forgets his root for a pot of soup.

amechi is an eastern embarrasment

SpecialAdviser:
I am really impressed with this aviation minister Hadi Sirika and his attitude towards Igbos.

God bless you sir. Please never mind that useless Amaechi who forgets his root for a pot of soup.

1 Nigeria pls. Which one is "towards Igbos" again

Dis one go be Landport joor...

Thank You Buhari.

[s]

YorubaKing:
Dis one go be Landport joor...

[/s]

I saw his (Hadi Sirika’s) interview live on Channels TV this morning and I immediately had the impression that he was one of the most articulate Ministers in Buhari’s cabinet.

I knew long ago that he is a trained pilot with vast experience in the aviation industry, but I had never listened to him during such a very long interview.

For about 4 minutes, the Channels TV interview crew couldn’t ask any question or interrupt the interview (in their usual manner); they kept nodding and attentively listening- as though they were being “schooled” about local and global aviation. Lol.

He is a smooth talker too; with excellent English diction. I had to go search his profile online. No wonder...

He delivered Abuja airport- which had the same challenge a few years ago; I expect that he will deliver Enugu too, as he had promised...

Well done, Hadi Sirika.

development comes with a cost, and discomfort is one of them. it's a welcome development by me.

selemempe:
amechi is an eastern embarrasment

And you can't spell Amaechi.

By the way, were you not against Amaechi seeking a loan for railways back in 2016?

Your eye don clear now.

Ntoor.

I am not a fan of this government but I visited Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport Abuja and I am impressed with the kind of face lift and work going on there.

I pray that such attention be given to AKANU IBIAM and other airport alike.

Kudos.

GavelSlam:


And you can't spell Amaechi.

By the way, were you not against Amaechi seeking a loan for railways back in 2016?

Your eye don clear now.

Ntoor.

i was against wat? Are u ok? Plus since u are not igbo, dont ever pretend to tell me how to spell an igbo name