…FG Approves N10bn for Enugu Airport Emergency Repairs

…We Discussed Security, Stability in Niger Delta – Dickson

 By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved N10billion as special intervention fund for the urgent repairs and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to match with global standards.

Governors and leaders of the South East had appealed to President Buhari to give approval for an emergency funding to repair the Airport in Enugu state as the festive season approaches.

The President announced the approval when he received a delegation of governors and leaders of the Southeast geopolitical zone on at the State House, Abuja.

The President said that he was aware of the central nature of the airport to the socio-economic development of the Southeast.

The airport was shutdown to make way for the repair of its runway and general rehabilitation by the federal government in August 24, 2019 when the ministry of Aviation declared it unsafe for flights operation.

Buhari also said he was aware of the infrastructure deficits all over the country occasioned by lack of judicious use of available resources in the past.  

He, however, declared that his administration is working on remedying this situation.

“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.

He 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.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, David Umahi said that the airport is strategic to the economy of the zone. 

The governor said,” unless something urgent and drastic is done, it might disrupt the usual socio- economic activities that takes place in the region during this season.”

Umahi, while expressing gratitude over some of Mr President’s infrastructural development in the region, noted that the people of the South East were delighted with the speed and quality of work at the second Niger Bridge.

The governor also commended the President for other ongoing Federal projects in the region including Enyimba Industrial City, Aba.

On the condition of inter-state Federal roads in the region, the governor described them as deplorable, urging the President to ‘‘kindly declare a State-of-Emergency’’ on them and issue appropriate directives.

The leaders, who decried the challenging security situation in the region, had also appealed to President Buhari to approve special funding for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.

The intervention fund approval follows an earlier meeting between the South-East leaders and with President Buhari at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja.

The leaders had during the meeting called for special intervention for the speedy rehabilitation of the airport and federal roads in the region.

“We are here to kindly urge Mr. President to approve special funds for the Akanu Ibiam Airport just like what was done for Abuja Airport,” he said.

Governors at the meeting include Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Also, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader representing southeast Caucus in National Assembly and Senator Sam Egwu were at the meeting.

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim was also at the meeting. Former Governors from South-East region at the meeting include Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State; Okwesilieze of Enugu State; Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; Achike Udenwa of Imo State, and Ikedi Ohakim also of Imo.

DAILY ASSET recalls that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sarika had during a meeting with southeast governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other stakeholders in Enugu on August 30, said that the airport’s runway would be rehabilitated and extended, damaged tarmac rebuilt, and new landing equipment with night landing facility installed.

Southeast governors also said that they preferred Julius Berger following alleged poor job earlier done on the runway in 2014 by PW.

DAILY ASSET gathered that about N6.5b is needed to rehabilitate and expand the runway, while another N1.5b will be required to fix the runway lights and bring it to international standard, parameters fencing N100 million and other modern equipment that will be installed.

The runway of the airport is expected to be expanded from three kilometres to about 3.6 kilometres.

South-South Govs Meet Buhari

Also, yesterday, President Buhari had a closed-door meeting with governors of the nine oil producing states.

The nine oil producing states are Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo and Ondo.

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting, said a major issue discussed with the president was the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He expressed optimism that the president would address the concerns raised by the governors about developments in the commission.

“Today, I came here with my colleagues — governors of the oil producing states; states that make up the Niger Delta.

“We came to have interactions with the president and senior officials of his government on our concerns about developments in the Niger Delta.

“We also discussed fears and what we know is going on in the NDDC which is a critical agency,” he said.

He said the governors were delighted with the president’s understanding of the challenges and the issues in the commission and had promised to address them.

Mr Dickson said the concerns had to do with stability, security and development.

“That is a broad spectrum; we had a robust discussion and the president fully understands, from his experience, the cost of development and the peculiar challenges that come with being an oil producing region.

“He has promised to look into it and take steps regarding some of the observations that we came to make which he and his team, the Niger Delta Ministry, are on top of.

“So, more or less, we had a meeting of minds; we compared notes and all agreed on the challenges we all need to work together to address,’’ he added.

On the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa, Mr Dickson said he was looking forward to a fair and peaceful poll.

He said that Bayelsa was known for restiveness and militancy prior to his becoming governor in 2012, but that the narrative had changed.

The governor said his collaboration with security agencies, community and opinion leaders as well as all strata of the people and leaders had brought stability to the state.