Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, have expressed concern over the pace of work at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, charging the contractor, PW to finish work before Easter period as promised.

The committee insisted that it would be unacceptable if the ongoing works at the airport were not completed as specified, but commended Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of the State for his contribution towards the success of the project.

Speaking on behalf of members of the committee, when they inspected the ongoing airport runway reconstruction, last week, Hon. Nnoli Nnaji, the Committee Chairman expressed concern over the pace of work.

Nnaji, who reminded the contractor of its promise that the reconstruction of the runway and installation of vital navigational aids would be ready before Easter, disclosed that the committee had promised the State Governor, whom he said had made lots of contributions towards the reopening of the airport, and the entire South East people as well as all those using the airport, that the project would be completed, inaugurated and put to use by Easter as promised.

He said: “So we are asking you to apply all necessary means to facilitate this all-important project. You promised us that even if it means working at night that you people will achieve it. Double your efforts so that this airport can be used before Easter. There are certain things you complained about; the consultant said they have been taken care of. So I don’t think there will be issues.

“We are pleading with you to deliver quality work as scheduled. We don’t want to disappoint our people. We want to make sure that we live up to our promise.”

Insisting on quality job, Nnaji maintained that his committee was also ensuring that the work being done by the contractor met the international standard for the safety and convenience of the airport users.

During their earlier courtesy visit to Ugwuanyi, the aviation committee chairman, had thanked the governor for all his efforts towards the realisation of the airport project, including his recent promise to reconstruct the access road to the VOR/DME and meteorological facilities behind Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot at Emene in the state.

He equally lauded the efforts of other governors of the South East geo-political zone, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, the leadership and members of the National Assembly, especially the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his fellow committee members, among others, stressing that “we have a mandate to ensure that the Airport is reopened before Easter. (Daily Independent)

Update news