By Uche Mbah
After a long lull due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, the Federal Government is mobilizing workers back to the site to continue with the rehabilitation of the runway of the Airport.
At the heat of reactions over the weekend on the commemoration of the Biafran war, pictures were released of escalators completed at the Airport, which was fact-checked to be false. The escalators were said to be actually that of the Port Harcourt International airport. This has fuelled controversies over social media. This was because the renovations that have been ongoing at the Airport involve mostly the extension of the runway which has necessitated the relocation of markets around the airport by the state government.
Minister of Aviation, however, tweeted Monday that work is about to resume at the runway that was suspended due to COVID 19.
“We announce our full remobilization to Enugu despite COVID lockdown. Even with challenges like heavy rains, opening up of quarries, and bitumen sources we should complete this procurement in a few weeks. A definite date of completion will be announced at my next site visit”, he said.
Before the pandemic, the Minister had sworn that the runway will be finished and the Airport reopened by last April during Easter Holidays. But that is not to be.
With COVID 19, workers had to abandon the site to be with their families due to social distancing. With the gradual relaxation of the lockdown, the coast is now clear for the workers to return to the site.
The federal government had released the amount of N10 billion for the completion of the project. Flights coming to the Southeast has been diverted to either the Portharcourt International Airport or the Owerri airport.
Three months ago, the minister had lamented the inability of his ministry to complete work as scheduled.
“Considering that the construction workers have downed tools owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government, hereby, officially announces suspension of procurement. The work would have been completed in six to seven days, but the workers left to be with their families in view of the social distancing,” he had said.
