COVID 19 PANDEMIC: AT LAST FG POSTPONES DELIVERY DATE OF AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENUGU

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, has appealed to the people of the Southeast to be patient with delay in the delivery of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport previously slated to be delivered before Easter.  Mr. Sirika made the appeal during a tour of the airport to ascertain the level of work before the evacuation of the contractors on the procurement. 

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the short down of most activities in the country occasioned the late delivery, noting that as soon as the critical period ended the Airport would be delivered.  After a meeting that had in attendance the management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), representative of the state government and the South East Governors Forum, Mr. Sirika noted that the job was at over ninety-three percent completion.

The Minister explained some of the challenges encountered in the course of the project and assured the people of the zone of the Federal Government’s  commitment to deliver an airport that would stand the test of time. 

According to the current contractual specifications, Akanu Ibiam International Airport will have a twelve kilometre perimeter fencing, clinic, terminal building renovation, instrument landing system, drainage, cargo end, drainage system among others.  Recall that the Aviation Minister had in two previous visits said that the Easter delivery of the Airport was sacrosanct despite doubts expressed in some quarters over the pace of work.

CHUKWUMA EZEOGU