Following the rainstorm, which wreaked havoc in some parts of Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has ordered the immediate closure of Akure Airport to all flight operations.
It was gathered that the temporary closure of the airport is part of FAAN’s efforts to ensure safety, as the rainstorm, accompanied by a thunderstorm, damaged some equipment at the airport.
A FAAN official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged passengers and other stakeholders to cooperate with the airport management.
He said the closure is to ensure safety at the airport, noting that the development has caused discomfort to many passengers who were turned back due to the destruction.
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The official explained that engineering equipment, the control tower, and the terminal building of Akure Airport were affected and damaged by the storm.
He listed other affected equipment, including the network time protocol, encoder, air conditioners, computers, and other devices in the control tower.
He said, “Monday’s thunderstorm really damaged many pieces of equipment inside the control tower. The windows were smashed, while the ceiling also caved in.
“If you go around the airport, many buildings, including staff quarters, were also damaged by the storm. At least about seven buildings occupied by airport staff had their roofs removed as a result of the heavy thunderstorm.”
“With this development, all commercial flights have been grounded until further notice by the airport authority, pending the repair of the damaged equipment.”
As a result, scores of passengers were left stranded at the airport, while all efforts to obtain an official statement from FAAN officials on the development were unsuccessful.
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