It is now a year and six days since the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) shut down the operation of flights at the Akanu International Airport for safety concerns. However, on Sunday, the 30th of August the airport was reopened for operation.
August 24, 2019, FAAN shut down the operation of flights in the airport after prominent Igbo persons lamented the deplorable state of the airport, saying it is a death trap.
President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently approved a special fund of ₦10bn for the reconstruction/rehabilitation work at the airport. This came after the South-East Governors and Igbo leaders led a delegation to the presidency.
During the re-opening on Sunday, the president who was represented by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed that the completion of works at the runway and the flight operation reopening “was a promise kept”.
Buhari added that the airport was so important to the aviation industry as well as to the people of the South-East because of the revenue it generated, saying that was why everything humanly possible was done to see that the airport was reopened on time.
The Minister added that by approving the sum of ₦10bn for the rehabilitation of the airport, Buhari had shown how dedicated he was towards the infrastructure development in the region and the country at large.
He said, “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.”
He also said that he had approved the sum of ₦1bn for the continuation nof works at the International Terminal building and Cargo Terminal in a bid to upgrade the airport to international standards.
The South-East governors were commended by the minister for their support in ensuring that the repair works were carried out as quick as possible and specifically thanked the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for removing the obstacles that would have hinder the progress of the project.
Also speaking at the reopening is the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said, he never believed, “that what we are seeing today will happen.”
He then thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving money for the project.
He also than Governor Ugwuanyi for his efforts in making sure that the project became a reality.
Also, at the reopening were Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was represented by his Deputy.
Meanwhile, the first commercial airline to land at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu after the completion of the rehabilitation works at the airport runway was Air Peace as it landed at the Airport on Sunday.
The flight landed at exactly 1:30 pm with Ministers of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba onboard.
Other prominent Igbo at the events were Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Uche Ekwunife, Chukwuka Utazi and some member of the House of Representatives, Nnoli Nnaji included.
They all headed to the government house of Enugu State to hold a discussion as soon as they arrived.
