Home / Lead Story / FG’s threat to downgrade/shut Enugu airport: State Govt  orders immediate closure of market, removal of illegal structures
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

FG’s threat to downgrade/shut Enugu airport: State Govt  orders immediate closure of market, removal of illegal structures

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State
Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of State Transportation (Aviation)

Following safety concerns raised by Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on potential air hazards in and around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the Enugu State Executive Council has ordered the immediate closure of Orie Emene Market near the airport.

Briefing newsmen after the council’s meeting on Friday, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe, disclosed that the council also closed the abattoir near the airport and equally ordered the immediate removal of all illegal structures encroaching on the land of the airport.

Sen. Sirika had said that the Federal Government may downgrade the  Airport from handling international operations because of its inability to expand the runway and because of the market, abattoir and mast around it.

He made the disclosure at the 6th Aviation Stakeholders Forum in Lagos on Friday.

Sirika said that there were some developments around the airport that posed security and safety threats to flight operations, adding that effort was on to address the challenges.

According to him, the state government decided to situate its free trade zone market and radio mast too close to the runway which is against international safety standard.

“We have some issues there and I have met the governor three times to discuss the issues.

“As you approach Enugu, there is a market there, there is an abattoir and at the end of the runway, there is a free trade zone and as you know, Enugu is the Kaduna of the east.

“A lot of passengers from the eastern part of the country travel through Enugu airport.

The minister said that unless the market and the mast were removed, the government would have no option but to discontinue international flights into the airport.

He said that the government was committed to ensuring that all ongoing projects across Nigerian airports were completed before the end of the year.

He added that the government would also ensure that Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports obtained the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) certification.

Apparently reacting swiftly to Sirika’s position, Anikwe added that “the Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area has been directed to effect the immediate closure of the market”.

He explained that “the State Executive Council had on 12th October, 2018 approved funds for relocation of the State Broadcast Mast on the approach of the runway to Okpatu Hill (Ugwu Rerenkwu) in Udi Local Government Area but the implementation of this project has been hampered by the disruptive activities of some youths in the community”.

According to the information commissioner, “Enugu State Government hereby directs immediate cessation of all hostilities against the project as any further interference will attract the full wrath of the Law given that the government has paid all the necessary compensation.

“The Traditional Rulers of Okpatu communities and Town Union Leadership are hereby called upon to ensure full compliance with the above directives”.

The shocking news of the possible downgrade or closure of the airport by the Federal Government had elicited spontaneous outrage especially by Igbo leaders, some of who saw the move as extension of the political hostility towards the South East geo-political zone by the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal Government arising from the outcome of the elections.

For instance, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, former President of Aka Ikenga and a Lagos -based lawyer had said that “The dishonest attitude of the Minister is shocking. The farewell gift to Ndigbo is manifesting itself in this satanic order by the outgoing minister! This airport became international due to the efforts of the Igbo caucus in the National Assembly and concurrent action of a benevolent government. The government of TODAY started threatening the very status of the airport with all kinds of obstructions. This kind of anti Igbo move must be resisted.”

Other commentators said that the state government must address the safety concerns of the aviation authorities, which the Ugwuanyi government, according to the statement of Ogbuagu, has set about doing.

 

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