Minister insists airport runway repairs will be concluded in six weeks

THE Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has reaffirmed that the planned runway reconstruction will be completed exactly in six weeks.

Speaking at a joint press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Transportation to inform the media on the readiness of government to redirect air traffic to Kaduna airport and commence the reconstruction of Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport runway on Monday in Abuja, Sirika stated that “Abuja runway reconstruction will be completed exactly in six weeks, not a day longer”.

The Minister said all arranges for the redirection of air traffic to Kaduna airport has been concluded and he assured that Kaduna airport will be ready for full operations on the 9^th of March 2017.

Sirika had given the same assurance on the 27^th of January when he received the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria who accosted him to throw more light on measures put in place by the Ministry to ensure that air travellers to the Capital City did not get stranded within the six weeks of Abuja airport closure.

He assured them that, “We have 6 months for procurement, but when we are done with procurement, the airport will be close for six weeks and not a day longer. I assure you that the runway will be delivered exactly after six weeks” the Ministered guaranteed.

Also speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi noted that the rail system is ready to convey air passengers to and fro to Kaduna.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris stated at the event that the Police Force has deployed police patrol team to be stationed at Rigisa, the rail terminal in Kaduna and at Idu, the rail terminal in Abuja.

Idris noted that, “the police have deployed all resources to ensure the safety of lives and property in Kaduna metropolis; we have deployed enough policemen to patrol the city center and Abuja –Kaduna highway.

Abuja International airport will be closed on the 8^th (Wednesday) with all air traffic meant for the airport redirected to Kaduna airport, Abuja airport is expected to be reopen on the 19^th of April 2017.