Two days to the planned closure of the Enugu Airport to repairs, the federal government has been urged to release a special grant to the State government to enable it cope with the increased demand for security and maintenance of roads that will serve the diverted traffic from the airport while the repairs last.
Making the appeal yesterday was the Chairman House Committee on aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji who used the opportunity to raise concern over the planned closure from August 24, 2019, and the adverse effect it will have on the socio-economy of the entire South East.
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While lamenting that the closure was coming at a time travelling by road in the South-East zone had become a nightmare due to the prevailing security challenges, Nnaji, however, promised that his committee would work assiduously with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that the repair works are completed within the stipulated time.
He appealed to the Ministry of Works to ensure that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was adequately mobilized to carry out some urgent repair works on the various access roads between Enugu and alternate airports that would serve Enugu Traffic during the period.
Nnaji who said he was not happy that the Enugu Airport run-way collapsed within six years of its construction, assured that his committee would raise questions on the matter very soon.
His words: “By my investigation, a standard runway should have a life span of thirty years so if that runway could collapse under six years some people have to give us explanations.
“The country is going through some difficult times economically and there are so many things contesting for the scarce resources so we cannot afford to have huge taxpayers money go down the drains just like that. If in the course of our findings we discover that the contractor did a shoddy job on the collapsed runway, he will not go scot-free.”
Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/ West in the House of Representatives further assured that his committee would not witch hunt anyone but stressed that it would strive to ensure that the right things are done to keep the nation’s Aviation sector safe and reliable.
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