Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu
After about 370 days of intensive rehabilitation and extension works on the runway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu flight operations can now resume at the airport.
This was signified on Saturday when the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika’s flight landed on the runway ahead of Sunday formal commissioning.
The runway was shutdown on August 24, 2019 for complete rehabilitation.
Spokesperson at Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Henrietta Yakubu on her Facebook page wrote: “After 370 days of closure the Akanu Ibiam International Airport comes alive with an aircraft conveying the Hon. Minister of Aviation; Sen. Hadi Sirika/entourage landing on the new runway.”
The rehabilitation works was would had been completed earlier was interrupted by the but outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) the workers were evacuated from site to ensure they remain safe.
After the workers returned to site following the ease on the lockdown, and during an inspection visit by the Minister, he assured that the project would be delivered on August 30, 2020.
However, there were apprehensions among the public that the reopening of the runway to flight operations might be delayed after a man went to demolished about two kilometers section of the perimeter fence. But the Minister insisted on delivering the project to terms ensure on August 30, 2020.
This is the second time the Minister would successfully rehabilitate and deliver athe runway of gateway airports in the country
It would be recalled that in 2017 the runway of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, was reopened six weeks after it was shutdown for urgent repairs
The repair works were completed 24 hours ahead of scheduled time
