The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, yesterday, said that the proposed repair of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway would cost over N5.8 billion. He also said that the proposed closure of the airport for six weeks for renovation work was in the best interest of Nigerians.
The minister stated this while answering questions from senators at plenary on the reasons for the decision and possible implications on the economy and the citizenry.
This was as the apex chamber directed the Minister to hold consultations with the Nigeria Society of Engineers(NSE) and other stakeholders in Aviation sector aimed at getting professional advice on the planned closure/repairs of the runway and meet with it next week Tuesday for final decision on the implementation of the project.
While grilling the Minister at a committee of the whole that lasted for three hours, the senators faulted reasons offered by the Aviation Minister for proposing to close the Airport for six weeks and temporarily relocating flights take off and landing services to Kaduna. Sirika told the Senate that the decision to relocate the airport to Kaduna was based on security and safety reasons for international and local passengers.
The Senate had on Tuesday, invited the Transport Minister, Hon Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello; Chief executive officers and Managing Directors of FAAN and NAMA, to appear before it to explain the reasons for the planned closure of the Abuja International Airport while carrying out repairs of the runway.
Sirika, a former member of the Senate, who walked into the Senate Chamber along with Transport Minister, dismissed fears expressed by the lawmakers on the dangers inherent in closing the airport. He noted that government had made adequate security and safety measures to contend with such logistic hiccups.
According to the Minister, arrangements have been concluded on how to relocate the Immigration Service, Customs Services, NAMA, NEMA, etc while deploying the Police, Federal Road Safety and other safety related agencies to patrol the Kaduna- Abuja Highway on 24 hours surveillance for the safety of international and local travelers.
He said that his ministry had through the media, sought the opinion of a cross section of Nigerians on the planned closure and repairs which was to take off in the first week of March, stating that the Federal Executive Council had given approval to the renovation estimated to cost about N5.8billion from this year’s budget.
The Minister explained that while the first phase of the repairs of the runway leading to the closure of the Airport would last for six weeks, the completion of the renovation would last for six months since the repairs would be carried out during the day and night by Julius Berger construction company.
