The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said the reconstruction project of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam international airport Enugu is 95 per cent complete and will be reopened 30th, August for flight operations. On arrival, they all headed to the Enugu State Government House to hold discussions.

All is now set for the reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after over one year closure to effect repairs and upgrade the facilities to international standard. One year after closure, Enugu airport reopens for flight operations, For Support : support@businessdaynigeria.zendesk.com. Based on the pressure and subsequent release of funds, the minister had made frequent inspection visits to the airport, just like the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who had literarily taken the project as his State project, making regular unscheduled inspection visits. “With the airport reopening today, it is now open to local flights and on 5th September, International flights will resume as soon as we begin to allow them into the country,” the minister said. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. It also had Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Uche Ekwunife, Chukwuka Utazi and some members of the House of Representatives including Nnoli Nnaji. It circulates in Nigeria and Ghana, EXPLAINER: Do modular refineries stand a survival chance…, PAN’s new investor plans $150m injection in retooling,…, #EndSARS: Protesters shift focus to good governance,….

It has both daily and Sunday titles. Meanwhile, Air Peace on Sunday became the first commercial airline to land at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after the completion of rehabilitation works at the airport runway.

FAAN had on August 24, 2019 shut down flight operations in the airport after prominent Igbo sons and daughters lamented the deplorable state of the airport, describing it as a death trap. However, Igbo leaders led by the South-East governors and National Assembly members from Igbo land never relented. Abuja trip: Eze dismisses Ngige’s call for monarchs’ banishment. Enugu International Airport To Re-Open Tomorrow by PDPGuy: 6:48pm On Aug 29 ALL is now set for the reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after over one year closure to effect repairs and upgrade the facilities to international standard. The reopening ceremony which will be done by President Muhammadu Buhari will be attended by the Southeast governors, led by their chairman, David Umahi and notable Igbo leaders, including members of the National Assembly from the Southeast and officials of the aviation ministry. The airport runway project commenced last year with completion slated before easter of this year but unfortunately due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the work was halted. Buhari said the Airport was so important to the aviation industry as well as to the people of the South-East because of its revenue base, adding that was why everything humanly possible was done to see that the Airport reopened on time. Sirika said that by approving the sum of N10bn for the rehabilitation of the airport, Buhari had shown how dedicated he was towards the infrastructural development of the South-East and the country at large. READ ALSO: One year after closure, Enugu airport reopens for flight operations.

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now. Finishing touches were being put on few things inside the airport building as at the time of filing the report, while the Aviation Minister, Senator Sirika was being expected at the airport for final supervision ahead the reopening ceremony. Nwodo who was so delighted that the airport was reopened eventually thanked Buhari for approving money for the project. The rehabilitation of the effort has been engrossed in controversy with intermittent stoppage of work for lack of fund. He expressed satisfaction with the work done, assuring that other projects embarked on within the airport and the cargo area were on course. Onboard the flight which landed at exactly 1.30pm were ministers of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.

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The Minister who stated this during an inspection of the runway project said the perimeter fence had been constructed and the airfield lightings fixed. It is the only Nigerian newspaper with a bureau in Accra, Ghana. With the reopening of the airport today, air travellers from the Southeast, especially international travellers will have sigh of relief. To ensure the scheduled completion of the rehabilitation, Enugu State Government had embarked on the demolition of structures obstructing work on the airport project even to the extent of stepping on some toes just to ensure that the airport was completed and reopened. All rights reserved. The minister commended the South-East governors for their support in ensuring that the repair works were carried out as quickly as possible and thanked the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, especially for removing the obstacles that would have hindered the progress of the project. The minister noted that since the remobilization of the contractor back to site a few months ago, the project has attained an appreciable level. All is now set for the reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after over one year closure to effect repairs and upgrade the facilities to international standard. FG warns airport users to cease purchase of access gate stickers from ICube Share The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said the reconstruction project of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam international airport Enugu is 95 percent complete and will be reopened 30th, August for flight operations. He also thanked Ugwuanyi for his efforts in making sure that the project became a reality. They mounted immense pressures on the Federal Government over the airport, lamenting the negative economic impact of the continued closure of the airport on the zone. Speaking at the occasion, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said he never believed, “that what we are seeing today will happen.”. Lost your password? Nigeria's leading finance and market intelligence news report. He added that he had also approved the sum of N1bn 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 5th September, International flights will resume as soon as we begin to allow them into the country,” the minister said. Speaking during the official reopening on Sunday, the president who was represented by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said that the completion of work at the runway and the reopening of flights operation “was a promise kept.”. MUCH awaited re-opening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu will take place on August 30, 2020, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, announced in Enugu on Thursday. Protesters confront soldier who allegedly shot at them in Agbara (video), Chaos at Lekki-Epe expressway in Ajah as mob allegedly overpower policemen and seize their guns (videos), Nigerian flag pulled down from Nigerian High Commission in UK (video), US government sues Google for alleged anti-competitive abuses in search engine, BBNaija: Housemates get worried as Laycon reveals that he’s sickle cell, BBNaija 2020: Why I refused to accept Ozo’s proposal – Nengi tells Laycon, MFM Mountain Top Life 27th March 2020 – Before It is too Late, Moment Nengi went haywire when she saw Ozo’s comment during Her Instagram Live, BBNaija 2020: Biggie rejects Nengi’s offer, Chelsea football star, Antonio Rüdiger reacts to Lekki tollgate gun attack, What Obasanjo told Buhari over shooting of protesters, Fayose attacks Buhari over the Lekki gunshot incident. The completion and reopening schedule had been fixed and cancelled many times for one reason or the order, including the coronavirus pandemic outbreak which caused the last delay.

All Rights Reserved. The ceremony will hold by 10 am tomorrow and will be witnessed by notable Igbo leaders Airlines extends flight cancellations over 24 hours curfew in Lagos, Airlines cancel flights as Lagos imposes curfew over #EndSARS protests, Delta Airlines Lagos bound flight returns to New York over #EndSARS protests, NAHCO denies allegations of money laundering, others by former employee, 5 things FG must do to build resilient, industrial economy, Exploring a new model for cooperation between business and society, Our youth and the protests – Looking beyond End SARS, The amazing activism and nationalism of Dr. M.T. © 2020 - Businessday NG. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), subsequently approved N10bn special fund for the reconstruction/ rehabilitation work at the airport after the South-East Governors and Igbo leaders led a delegation to the presidency. [READ ALSO] Abuja trip: Eze dismisses Ngige’s call for monarchs’ banishment, Apart from Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State were present. At last, after a year and six days the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria shut down flights operation at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport for safety concerns, the airport was on Sunday reopened for business. Speaking on Channels Television yesterday, the minister said that work is on-going and if there is sufficient funding to complete repairs to the dilapidated runway, the Federal Government intends to open it before the Christmas celebration commences. The ceremony will hold by 10 am tomorrow and will be witnessed by notable Igbo leaders led the Southeast governors and members of the National Assembly from the zone. On August 24th the federal government shut down Enugu airport for major repairs and work on the airfield. Copyright PUNCH Akobo and Prof. Kimse Okoko, Get the best of world News delivered to your inbox daily, Business Day, established in 2001, is a daily business newspaper based in Lagos. The expanded and extended runway has been completed and wearing a new look. Please enter your email address.