The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has relocated to Enugu with his officials and aids for adequate preparation towards reopening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Sunday.
In a statement signed by Mr. James Odaudu, Director of Public Affairs in the Aviation ministry, on Thursday in Abuja, Sirika said that the purpose of his relocation was to ensure nothing went wrong with the planned reopening.
The minister also stated that his relocation to Enugu was to monitor the finishing touches being put in place by the contractors handling the runway reconstruction and installation of facilities at the airport.
“There have been apprehensions about the possibility of the resumption of flights at the airport as planned.
READ ALSO: FG Suspends Work On Enugu Airport
“This was as a result of an unwarranted and ill-advised pulling down of about two kilometres stretch of perimeter fence of the airport by an individual claiming ownership of the land on which the fence was raised,“ he said.
Sirika gave assurance that everything possible was being done to ensure that the people of the Southeast region begin to enjoy flight operations at the airport from Sunday.
Sirika commended the governors of the Southeast States, especially Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for joining efforts with the ministry to ensure a successful return of activities at the airport.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu was shut down in August 2019 to enable the Federal Government to reconstruct the runway which had become so dilapidated that aviation experts described it as an accident waiting to happen.
NAN