The faulty design of the new international terminal, under construction, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIAA), has caused a partial blockage of the control tower and it will cost the federal government between N3billion to N4.5 billion to replace the facility.
Sources from the ministry of transportation said the government is considering relocating the facility if the new modern Abuja airport terminal will be used.
Daily Trust gathered from top ministry of transportation officials that the budget to relocate the facilities may be captured in the 2017 budget if plans on it conclude.
Our correspondent observed that, the new terminal building is blocking a section of the control tower. Industry experts say that isn’t very safe for air controls.
Even the minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika had expressed disgust over the location of the new Abuja terminal building which construction began under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and under the supervision of the then minister of Aviation, now Sen. Stella Oduah.
At a stakeholder’s forum held in Abuja recently, the minister said the terminal building is blocking the fire service and the control tower.
A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Roland Iyayi, told our correspondent on phone that, “I’m aware that the terminal building is not well located. The past administration was just interested in looking for space at the airport and builds a terminal without looking at the implications. What we have is that the control tower located at the domestic wing is more like being blocked by the new international terminal building. That is obstructing the view of aircraft movement.”
A new control tower he said would cost the government between $10 million to $15 million between N3.5 billion to N4.5 billion.
Also commenting, retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, a member of the Aviation Round Table queried the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for allowing the structure to stand in the way of the control tower.
“The question is, how did we get here? If things were done properly, we wouldn’t be talking of relocating tower. By NCAA regulation you don’t construct or reconstruct anything within the airport or its premises without the authority of the NCAA including FAAN because of safety and security. So, was the NCAA involved and approved the building? If yes, then we should first sanction NCAA before wasting any money on any control tower” he said.
