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| Front view of the remodelled domestic wing of Akanu-Ibiam International Airport Enugu<br />PHOTO: LAWRENCE NJOKU |
The
Federal Government has said that for the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, to
operate full international flights, certain security threats created by
property owners must be removed and enhancement of infrastructure must
be achieved.
Although it restated its commitment to ensure the realisation of an
international status for the airport with the release of N1.7 billion
for the continuation of construction work at its international wing, it
stated that its internationalisation would continue to be delayed until
the state government addressed certain lapses that had hindered progress
of work.
Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, who stated this
yesterday after an inspection tour of facilities at the airport, told
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that the Federal Government was poised to
address inadequacies at the airport, adding that a huge amount had been
voted into the 2018 budget for completion of work at the place.
He, however, said that such could only make a meaning with the
removal and relocation of several property obstructing the expansion of
the runway, security and flight operations. He said the belief that
government was not committed to the project was wrong.
Sirika, who listed the offending property to include the multi-
million naira Enugu free trade zone, which foundation laying was
performed in 2016 by the state governor, the Orie Emene market, masts
belonging to a television and radio stations, residential buildings as
well as fencing of the airport, stated that the free trade zone had not
only obstructed the runway, but was badly located and sought its
relocation.
The minister, who lamented the level of encroachment at the airport,
stated that the runway expansion, which the incumbent administration
embarked upon, had been hampered by encroachment.
He said that unless the security concerns at the airport were
addressed, the certification of the airport to an international status
would not be possible and called on the state government to do the
needful as he would do all in his ability to ensure that Enugu was given
its rightful status.
Ugwuanyi, who told the minister that he would do all in his capacity
to ensure that the airport gets an international status to enhance
Enugu’s economic and social status, pleaded with the minister to put the
request in writing as quickly as possible to facilitate quick
resolution of issues raised.
“If I don’t realise the completion, then Enugu would have lost its
status. I would do all in my power to relocate every obstructing
property as well as the free trade zone because that airport is Enugu’s
pride,” the governor said.
