By Uche Mbah
One month after the closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, work is yet to start on the rehabilitation of the runway.
Recall that the Airport was closed down about a month ago due to what the Aviation ministry called security concerns. This magazine found out that the concerns were genuine and that the repairs needed to be effected to reduce the dangers posed to travelers. Already, before the closure, the main International Airline, Ethiopian Airways, had given notice that it will stop flying the route if nothing is done in connection to the repairs of the airport runways. Even the major local airline, Air Peace, shared the same opinion.
The Federal government closed the Airport.
But the Airport was closed without making any arrangements for repairs, according to the Magazine findings.
Industry sources lamented that the government is deliberately using the closure-which, incidentally is indefinite, “as part of the ongoing punishment of the south east for not voting the APC government”, said an industry source. “This is the first line that a government is closing an airport without fixing a timeline for repairs. Do you know that it was after the closure that government said they will start searching for contractors to do the job? I am not even sure they have started searching”.
Though the political coloration seems far fetched, government activities appear to fuel the belief that it is deliberately doing that against the igbos, as this is the only international Airport in the East.
Before the closure, Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika met with Igbo leaders at Enugu where he allegedly briefed them of plans to close the Airport. He did not give an indication of how long it will be closed.
When Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja was closed and International Flights were diverted to Kaduna, a timeline was given for the repairs. Government adhered to that timeline.
Moreover, they first rehabilitated the Kaduna Airport and environs before beginning the Abuja Airport rehabilitation. And contractors were on ground before the announcement of the rehabilitation process.
In the case of Enugu, local flights are being diverted to Owerri, Port Harcourt and Asaba, while international flights are diverted to Port Harcourt.
None of these has undergone rehabilitation to accommodate increased traffic.
