SHOP OWNERS, CAR HIRE OPERATORS, OTHERS EXCITED AS AKANU IBIAM AIRPORT RE-OPENS

Reporter : CHRISTIAN NWANGENE

Commercial activities have come to life at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene Enugu, following the reopening of the airport for normal navigational activities. The airport was shut down last year by the Federal Government to carryout rehabilitation work on the runway and for the installation of modern equipment to enhance flight operations. 

Since then, commercial activities were paralyzed, leaving many out of business, especially car hires, book sellers, pharmacitical shop owners among others. When Radio Nigeria visited the area, people were thrown into great excitement as the first commercial flight landed Wednesday (September 9) morning at the airport.

The commencement of normal flights operations, they said, brought  relief to so many business owners who suffered greatly, amidst the harsh economic realities of the moment, occasioned by the emergence of the COVID19 pandemic.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, the Chairman, Airport Car Hire Association, Mr. Ikechukwu Okolo, said the closure had impacted their businesses negatively and commended the government for fulfilling its promise to reopen the airport, noting that businesses had resumed.  Mrs. Favor Udeoye and Mrs. OJ Patience operating provision stores in the terminal complex, expressed optimism that businesses would boom as usual.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had in 2019 released ten billion naira for the rehabilitation of the runway, which was in a very bad state.