Williams Anuku Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari pulled a mild surprise on Thursday, when he announced the release of N10billion to enable the Ministry of Aviation carryout some repair works at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
South-East governors and leaders of thought from the region had stormed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to protest alleged neglect of the airport, including the decision of the government to keep the airport shut indefinitely, at the expense of business activities in the region.
But hardly had Dave Umahi, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum tabled their complaints, than Buhari made the announcement, saying, “I have approved the sum of N10billion as intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards.
“Even as we have many items competing for our limited resources, we will continue to prioritize infrastructure investments in every part of the country. It is our responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is fixed. we will keep doing this.
“We’re trying our best to make sure that infrastructure rehabilitation is carried out very quickly.
“I personally firmly believe that if we get infrastructure correct, the roads , rail, power, most Nigerians will mind their businesses, they would not even care who is in government. But when you deny them infrastructure, it will be difficult for them to compete and move across the country and regions”.
Buhari also appealed to the governors to explain this position to their people.
“Please, have the courage to continue explain to your constituencies whenever they feel that there is laxity in government effort to rehabilitate infrastructure.
“We are doing our best within the resources available to the government. The Federal Government is working to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. The challenges are there. It is our responsibility to fix things, we are doing it and we will continue to do our best in this regard,” the President said.
An elated Umahi who is the current governor of Enugu state, said they tabled the deplorable condition of federal roads in the south east, including the challenges posed by erosion and seeming neglect of the region in rail construction and rehabilitation.
He said they are not averse to interventions in these sectors, especially as the yuletide fast approaches.
“We came here to kindly urge Mr. President to approve special fund for the Akanu Ibiam Airport just like what was done for Abuja Airport, but he told us he has already approved N10billion for such purpose.
“For us, the closure of the Enugu airport has a ripple effect as it has grounded activities in the region, causing great hardship on the people. The deplorable South East roads have made the lives of the people miserable. Issues of railways also came under matters we tabled before the President,” the governor stated.
In attendance at the meeting were Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Emeka Ihedioha of Imo, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader representing South East Caucus in National Assembly, Senator Sam Egwu.
Others were former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governors Martin Elechi, Ebonyi State, Okwesilieze, Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, Enugu State, Achike Udenwa, Imo, and Ikedi Ohakim, Imo.
The lists also included Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Eric Acho Nwankwo, former Daily Times Managing Director, Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu, Ochiagha Regan Ufomba, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu and President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo among others.
Other top government functionaries from the federal government were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
Recall that the airport which was closed on August 24 to enable rehabilitation of the runway and the installation of other safety facilities to ensure safe flight operations generated a lot of reactions from Nigerians, with some claiming that the duration of the closure will bring about huge inconveniences to them.
While the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had promised to get the project completed by December this year, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, had also confirmed that the rehabilitation was yet to commence.
Yakubu had alleged that the airport was closed due to safety concerns regarding its operations, but Sirika had told the National Assembly that funding constraints was at the core of the delay in carrying out the project.
“Work is yet to begin on the runway. But it will soon; once the processes are concluded,” the FAAN Boss had stated.
In September 2018, the airport was reported as being underutilized, closing by 6 pm daily owing largely to the absence of airfield lighting and approach light.
The report which emerged when a team of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) inspected the airport disclosed that, this has stymied the capacity of the airport to generate revenue for the federal government unlike other major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.
Since the closure, domestic flights which used to land on the airport were being diverted to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Port Harcourt Airport including that of Asaba in Delta state.
