SAT APRIL 19 2025-theGBJournal| The Federal Government has been forced to temporarily close the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu for emergency runway repairs, following ”sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the airport’s runway.”
The Federal Government said the emergency repairs will be conducted on that portion of the runway from April 22nd to May 6th, 2025.
”We have been compelled to take this decision to close the runway. We sincerely apologise to Nigerians over this development as the airport is our major international gateway in the Southeastern part of Nigeria,” said Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Keyamo recalled that this same development led to the closure of the runway in August 2019 for one whole year and the contract for the total rehabilitation was awarded to a contractor.
”Unfortunately, when we came to office, we discovered that waterlogged part of the runway was not properly constructed to take care of the problem, leading to constant cracks and potholes on the runway,” he noted.
He argues that these obviously put the lives of the travelling public at great risk.
”We have been carrying out constant palliative works on it, but the problem has not abated and the cracks on the runway are becoming craters. I personally visited the airport some months after assuming office and expressed my total displeasure with the work done by the contractor.”
In the meantime, scheduled flight operations to Enugu will be diverted to other neighbouring airports.
”We are going to work tirelessly to meet the timeline in order to mitigate the inconvenience this closure will cause the travelling public,” Keyamo assured.
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
