Presidential committee assures airlines of passengers’ safety at Kaduna airport

The Presidential Sub-committee on Security has assured all foreign and local airlines of the safety of passengers at Kaduna Airport, which was earmarked as alternative by the Federal Government, following the planned temporary closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja from next month for rehabilitation works.

Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Movement of Airport Operations from Abuja to Kaduna and Assistant General of Police (AIG, Operations), Alhaji Alkali Baba Usman, said during an assessment visit, yesterday, said: “We have assessed the security here in Kaduna and everything has been put in place, in terms of security for successful flight operations.”

Usman, who led members the sub-committee to assess work and security on ground to ensure safety flight operation, also visited the villages heads of the surrounding communities hosting the airport, where he engaged them a in discussion.

“From all we have seen, all aspect of preparation, in terms of security, we are 90 per cent satisfied.”Meanwhile, the Kaduna International Airport Manager, Mrs. Amina Ozi Salami, while reacting to upgrade of facilities, said: “As you have seen, the terminal building, which was a very big issue is almost completed. We are 94 per cent of completion for now.

On the activities of the host communities around the airport, Salami said: “For the cattle incursion, that one has stopped a long time ago. We have held meetings with all the village heads, including the cattle owners, the Ardos, and they accepted that their cattle would not be crossing any longer into our active runway. “They told us and assure us that within the six weeks, they are going to keep off our active runways and facilities.”