The federal government on Wednesday said it has
concluded plans to carry out comprehensive rehabilitation of the runway of the
Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, who noted that
the runway has gone through a lot of short term repairs but to ensure that it
continues to meet international standards, the government has to embark on
comprehensive rehabilitation of the airport.
The director general made this known on Wednesday after
inspection tour of the facility and other safety critical infrastructure at the
airport.
Usman said NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority
of Nigerian (FAAN) were prompted to visit and inspect the airport facilities
following the call by the governors of the Southeastern states for urgent
action on the runway.
The governors described the runway as death trap.
But Usman said the runway is safe and that is why
the regulatory authority allowed flights at the airport, noting that Ethiopia
Airlines operates international flights three times a day from the airport.
“If maintenance has not been done according to
standards and renewals have not taken place as and when due, we certainly will
have some failures like this. Last year, Abuja runway was closed down as a
result of similar problems.
“Short time maintenance has been going on for the
past two years to ensure that the safety level is maintained. In the runway, we
just passed through, and there is nothing major in terms of safety. We came
here by air and we landed, but there is a lot that can be done to improve on
the riding quality.
“Plans are on the way to carry out similar works
that took place in Abuja runway. To ensure longer life, better riding quality
for the runway, we have some international flights coming to Enugu, some are
three times a week. Dreamliner lands here, Boeing 777 also lands here,
especially for cargo. Generally speaking, we will say the runway is still very
safe to operate. This is in line with the government’s policy to ensure that
whatever is done is in line with the international standard. Arrangements are
being made to rehabilitate the runway,” he stated.
The acting Managing Director of FAAN and Director,
Engineering Services, Salisu Daura, also added that the agency plans to install
airfield lighting, approach light and other safety critical amenities in order
to make the airport operate longer hours into the night.
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