Controversial closure

SHOLA ADEKOLA reports that the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja is raising concerns among stakeholders, despite assurances that repairs at the airport and diversion to Kaduna Airport would not be problematic for international passengers.

THE Federal Government through the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, towards the end of 2016 announced plans to shut the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, for six weeks for repairs to be carried out on the overused runway, It will cost N1.1 billion. The decision to shut the airport came following series of complaints from airline operators and their threat to stop flying into the place due to the poor condition of the runway. It was constructed in the 80s, and was to last for just 20 years, but it is now well over 30 years, making it dangerous for aircraft landing.

Initially, the closure was slated for February 2017, but later postponed to March 8, 2016. The government had also announced that for the six-week duration of the repairs, Abuja-bound flights would be diverted to Kaduna.

Since the announcement, not a few stakeholders had shown concern majorly on the appropriateness of the alternative airport to handle the volume of passengers during the period. In fact, stakeholders, including foreign embassies, international airline operators their domestic counterparts, state governments, security agencies and others met last Thursday, in Abuja, to chart the way forward. First to express reservations on the choice of Kaduna airport was the Niger State government, which advised the Federal Government to make Minna International Airport the alternative airport for travellers while the repairs last.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa said Minna airport was the closest to Abuja. He pledged the Government’s readiness to assist the Federal Government to make the airport a suitable alternative. According to him, Minna airport had the requisite facilities and manpower to serve as a trusted alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“The conversion of Minna airport for the purpose will reduce the suffering of travellers. Minna airport should be used in the most economic way; as a cargo airport. “Therefore, with the planned closure of Abuja airport for rehabilitation, it is wise economically to use Minna to serve Abuja. The proximity of Minna to Abuja is one hour plus if the dualisation work on Minna-Suleja road is fast-tracked and completed as planned by the Federal Government. As government, we, therefore, call on the authorities to look into this viable alternative,” Vatsa said.

Besides the position of the Niger government, the Managing Director of Centurion Aviation Security, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) expressed doubts over the choice of Kaduna.

“I’m not sure Kaduna is well-prepared to receive flights like the British Airways, and others from the European Union and the United States. The question is: have we reviewed the Kaduna airport security programmes to manage the airlines from these regions to meet the security challenges to their flights? Without any doubt all EU and US flights especially, would fly to Lagos. It’s left for our domestic airlines to take advantage of the situation and have distributory flights to Abuja and other smaller airports with smaller aircraft,” he said.

Representative of foreign airlines at the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the minister on the planned Abuja airport shutdown, Osho Joseph, argued that Kaduna airport could be an alternative for local airlines, and not foreign airlines for now. Despite the reservations of many stakeholders, it seems government has already made up its mind on the use of Kaduna airport. Most of the key players expressed strong feelings towards the closure of the Abuja airport runway for six weeks, suggesting it could be repaired without a complete shut-down.

The chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Megisson,  urged the government to explore the possibility of carrying out the repairs on the runway at night, while flights would be operated during day time. Sirika was, however, not swayed by Captain Megisson’s argument, because, according to him, the extent of the work to be done is critical. He argued that it was due to the shoddy job done in the past that necessitated the closure this time.

“Right now, all the four-level structures on that runway are completely gone. It is completely dilapidated. The idea of working at night without disruption of flight is what we have been doing for 14 years on that runway and we have been achieving the same result. To stop spending billions and getting the same result, we engaged a wide range of engineers, who advised that it be closed and a complete job be done on the runway.

But to prove cynics wrong, the Kaduna State government has expressed its readiness to ensure smooth operations during the six weeks period that international flights will be diverted to the state, the representative of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, at the forum, Gambo Hamza, assured that the government had begun cleaning up of the airport, adding that adequate security arrangement had been put in place.