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Reps decry non-commencement of Enugu airport rehabilitation 6 weeks after closure

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House of Reps

The House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate commencement of rehabilitation works on Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

During the resumed plenary on Wednesday, Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Toby Okechukwu, accused the Ministry of Aviation of abandoning the airport which has now been closed for six weeks.

Okechukwu had moved a motion, which was jointly sponsored by 13 other lawmakers from the South-east, under matter of public importance, on the need to ensure speedy rehabilitation of the airport.

He recalled that on August 24, 2019, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) closed down the airport to allow rehabilitation works of the runway, adding that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had visited Enugu and after meeting with the governors and other stakeholders in South-east, affirmed that the rehabilitation would be completed by Christmas.

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“Inspite of the Dec. 2019 deadline which is fast approaching, no contractor has been mobilised to the site and no fund released for the rehabilitation,” Okechukwu said.

Okechukwu added: “Alarmed that six weeks after the closure of the airport, no rehabilitation or reconstruction work has begun at the airport even as there are no indications that the contractor would mobilise to site any time soon.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the house, therefore, resolved to urge the House Committee on Aviation to work with the aviation ministry to ensure immediate commencement and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

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