We ’re not worried by slash of funds for Enugu airport rehabilitation, say South-East governors

South-East governors yesterday expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway.

They said they were not worried about the alleged slash in the N10 billion earlier approved for the airport rehabilitation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors also expressed support to the contractors handling the projects, even as they commended Buhari for his timely intervention in the release of funds for the projects and supervision of the federal agencies.Chairman of South-East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi, who spoke shortly after inspecting the pace of work at the ongoing rehabilitation of the airport, noted that the infrastructural state of the zone was gradually changing.

“We will continue to thank the President not only for this airport but for the second Niger Bridge and the speed of work and timely release of funds. We are pleased with the contractors doing the Enugu-Port Harcourt road with the quality of work and their speed is also very good. The airport construction is strictly done according to specification,” he said.

Umahi noted that the governors were not worried about the alleged slash in the earlier amount approved for the rehabilitation of the airport, stressing that what was important was for the job to meet international standards with whatever was released.He, however, asked the contractors to facilitate the work by doing the jobs that were not critical, such as fencing and drainage construction, in the night to enable them meet their deadline.

But briefing the governor on the pace of work at the airport, the Consultant, Sani Baba, stated that there was no going back on the April date for the reopening of the airport.He stated that though the contractors had asked for June deadline for the reopening of the airport, the new date of April was agreed on during a meeting between them and other stakeholders.He said the job was being done according to specification such that would make the airport one of the best in the country.