Kaduna Airport
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has affirmed the
readiness of the Kaduna Airport to receive Abuja-bound flights when the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) is closed in March.
FAAN said this to allay fears of air travellers that are worried
about the level of infrastructure upgrade and facilities required for
smooth diversion during the six-week repair work of the NAIA runway.
Recall that the Federal Government said there is no going back on the
closure of the airport from March 8 to April 19, to allow for runway
rehabilitation exercise. During this period, all the Abuja-bound
domestic and
international flights will be diverted to Kaduna Airport.
Kaduna Airport Manager, Amina Ozi-Salami, during an on-site inspection,
said the airport was ready to handle the expected traffic upsurge as
soon as the NAIA is closed.
Ozi-Salami said the runway was in perfect condition while the
capacity of the airport had been enhanced to accommodate any type of
aircraft.
She added that the lighting of the runway would be completed during
the week as well as enhancing the needed manpower to meet the
operational needs during the six weeks period.
The fire and safety equipment as well as the navigational equipment
of the airport, she noted, were being upgraded in line with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard.
“We are going to also boost the manpower by deploying staff from
Abuja to Kaduna and we are bringing in 40 fire and safety staff and 57
security staff.
“The management has been making effort to stop villagers around the
airport from trespassing and the state government has started working on
the vandalised portion of the perimeter fencing. With the synergy among
the security agencies, the issue of security has been taken care of,”
she said.
On-site project engineer, Kazeem Keji, disclosed that the new
terminal was 92 per cent completed and will be ready by the end of
February.
Keji said the target of the contractor was to complete the project
before the end of February, adding that the deadline for the completion
was February. 28.
He explained that the major component of the project had been
completed, the fittings, lightings and the ceiling would be fixed during
the week.
“We are not looking at the March 8 date, our deadline for completion
is February ending and we are going to finish it. We have done the major
part of the project, it is only the fittings that we are expecting to
be delivered after which the ceiling will be fixed,” he said.
At the fire tender, Head of Fire and Safety, Abubakar Danladi, said
further that three fire tenders were functional, while others were being
repaired, adding that the authority would also provide additional new
ones to help them attain “Category 9” rating.
