Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, opened on Sunday, after a year of shutdown for rehabilitation following safety concerns the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria.
The airport was shut down on August 24, 2019, after a series of complaints by Igbo leader who saw the airport as a threat to live because of its poor infrastructure.
President Muhammadu Buhari approved the N10bn special fund for rehabilitation work at the airport following several representations by prominent Igbo leaders, including governors of the southeast.
Buhari was represented at the opening ceremony on Sunday by Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, described as “a promise kept” the completion of work at the runway and the reopening of flight operation.
He said the Airport was so important to the aviation industry as well as to the people of the South-East because of its revenue base, adding that was why everything humanly possible was done to see that the Airport reopened on time.
According to Sirika, by approving N10bn for the rehabilitation of the airport, the President had demonstrated his dedication to the infrastructural development of the South-East and the country at large.
“With the airport reopening today, it is now open to local flights and on 5th September, International flights will resume as soon as we begin to allow them into the country,” Sirika said.
He announced the approval of another sum of N1bn for the continuation of work at the International Terminal building and the Cargo terminal. He said these are aimed at upgrading the airport to international standards.
