…Says Air Nigeria for launch 2021
The Minister of Aviation Mr Senator Hadi Sirika said Wednesday that lack of quarry dust may delay the reopening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
The minister said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buahri.
He said government was making efforts to ensure that the airport, closed down in August, 2019, for runway rehabilitation would be reopened for use before Easter.
He said quarry dust is a stronger material than normal sand in construction of runways and the intention is to make the airport have the most durable runway in the country.
According to him, the contractors need about 2,000 tonnes of quarry dust daily for the job and have run out of the commodity in Enugu.
He said the contractors have resorted to sourcing for quarry dust from neighbouring states where they sometimes get as little as 900 tonnes daily.
He said there mihas been no shift in completion date of the rehabilitation works at the airport.
He also disclosed that Air Nigeria would be launched in the third quarter of 2021, but with restricted operations within Nigeria at first.
The minister presented to the FEC meeting a performance report of the activities of the ministry since the beginning of the second tenure of the present administration.