Abuja airport second runway for completion in 12 months

As part of commitment to ongoing projects in the air transport sector, the Federal Government has assured that the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, would be ready in 12 months.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on tour of the Abuja airport this week, said the government had resolved the lingering issues on community compensation, which has impeded commencement of the initiative. Consequently, the contractors are free to mobilise to site for delivery of the project.

It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in March 2022 approved a total of N92.12 billion for the construction of the second runway, with a 12-month duration.

Similarly, FEC at the twilight of President Muhammadu Buhari in May also approved post-contract consultancy amounting to N3.4 billion for the construction of the second runway and associated facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Keyamo hinted at his efforts with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to clear “obstacles” off the way of the project. He said: “As of today, the report I have is that the communities have started receiving the money we disbursed. The Chinese company handling the project said it would clear the place next week and move to the site. So, we are going to invite Mr President to commission it.

“For Abuja, as a capital city, it is extremely important that I work with relevant agencies, and the National Assembly to make sure we deliver the project within 12 months,” Keyamo said.

The minister recalled that the project had been a controversial project from the tenure of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo till date. He, however, described the second runway and ancillary facilities as critical supports to the NAIA and the capital city in general.

On tour of the terminals, Keyamo also assured that the government would intensify efforts to improve chillers, lifts, and escalators at airports nationwide, to improve travellers’ experience nationwide.

He said: “Both locally and internationally, what passengers want to see are three things – good chillers; they want to come into a conducive atmosphere. They also want to see that the lifts are working. The third one is effective escalators.

“These are the problems our airports are facing. Even with this new facility, I understand, only four of the chillers are working.

“I have told them that my mentality to some of those things is that, for example, most of the chillers that are obsolete, instead of fixing them repeatedly, we will buy new ones.

“The cost of fixing three times can buy a new one. There are good brands all over the world. Let us buy high quality lifts. The ones I saw here are not good enough.

“I know about lifts. I will not be here to buy substandard lifts. Lift is not what you just buy weekly. I will not be spending money repairing them every two months,” he said. He said further that contracting the facility to the private sector to maintain it would be better than holding someone (FAAN) responsible for any abnormality.

“Structurally, I think Abuja airport is a little bit okay. In terms of the structure. We don’t need to do any structural amendment here. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been maintaining quality control and intends to keep that going. That is why our sky has been safe for some time.

“NCAA is directly responsible to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. We will hold them working to that standard. That is my duty but not to interfere in their regulatory activities,” he said.