The Federal government says it has kept to its promise of rehabilitating the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to meet international standards.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said this at the official reopening ceremony of the airport which had been shut since August 2019 due to its poor infrastructure state.
Sirika who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the ceremony said that by approving the sum of 10 Billion naira as special funding for the rehabilitation of the airport, the president has shown how dedicated he is towards the infrastructural development of the South East.
He said that though the Airport was contributing hugely to revenue generation, the FG had to prioritise the safety and interest of Nigerians who are the primary Stakeholders.
He expressed confidence with the level of work done at the airport while adding that he had also approved the sum of 1bn for the continuation of works at the International Terminal building as well as the Cargo terminal, in a bid to upgrade the airport to International Standards.
“With the airport reopening today, it is now open to local flights and on the 5th September, International flights will resume as soon as we begin to allow them into the country.
Also speaking during the opening, Ebonyi State governor and chairman of the South-East governor’s forum, Dave Umahi said that the decision to close the airport in 2019 was difficult but was in the interest of the people and their safety.
” It was a risk worth taking. And we are happy that it is being reopened today, after series of dialogues, persuasions and negotiations with the FG” he said.
He added that further efforts will be made to ensure that the 2nd Niger Bridge is equally given requisite attention.
On his part, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Smart Adeyemi, said that the South East deserves the same measure of attention and sense of belonging like other regions in the country.
Also, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, said that the reopening of the airport has brought some sense of relief to the people of the South East who have often demanded equity and justice.
He noted that the Akanu Ibiam Airport is to the South East what the Kaduna Airport is to the North while thanking the FG for taking bold steps to address the infrastructure challenges at the airport.
Present at the reopening ceremony were the governors of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu, Anambra, Willie Obianno and deputy governor of Imo State, Placid Njoku, former governor of Old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, former governor of Enugu State Okwesili Eze Nwodo, President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo.
Others present were the Ministers of Labour and employment, Chris Ngige, Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, State for education, Emeka Neajiuba, Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
The ceremony also had Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Uche Ekwunife, Chukwuma Utazi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Smart Adeyemi and members of the house of representatives, including Linda Ikpeazu, chairman House Committee on aviation, Nnoli Nnaji and MD of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Rabiu Yadudu.
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