Upgrade of runway of Abuja Airport to continue for 18 weeks

Upgrade of runway of Abuja Airport to continue for 18 weeks

Sunday, March 26, 2017 8:41 pm


Abuja airport: the runway to undergo another 18 weeks makeover

 

The Federal Government Coordinating Committee overseeing the management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja airport repairs on Sunday said upgrade works on the runway would continue for another 18 weeks after the airport reopens for operations on April 19.

“This second phase of upgrade works on the runway will be carried out at night, with no disruption to flight schedules”, the Presidency official who further said the ongoing repair is about its mid-point on Wednesday said

The source added that a media tour to allow reporters observe and assess the progress of work on the

He also revealed that over 43,000 passengers passed through the Kaduna Airport in  the first 11 days of closure of Nnamdi Azikwe Airport.

The committee disclosed this in its latest data submitted to the Presidency by the Federal Government Coordinating Committee overseeing the management of the Airport repair, closure and relocation.

However, a Presidential aide, who preferred not to be named, said the figure was more than the 41,000 passengers it recorded in the entire first quarter of 2015, and the 21,000 in the first quarter of 2016.

The source also disclosed that, during this period, about 10,000 passengers took advantage of the free bus shuttle, organised by the federal government to transport passengers between the Abuja and Kaduna Airports.

‘’The free bus shuttle conveyed passengers between Abuja and Kaduna airports, starting at the Abuja airport at 6 o’clock in the morning, and at the Kaduna Airport from 8 a.m.

‘’The shuttle takes 3 hours from airport to airport, and runs every 30 minutes, until the arrival of the last daily flight in Kaduna.

‘’The Shuttle is in addition to the federal government’s free Train Service between Abuja and Kaduna.

‘’The two-and-half-hour Train Service departs Abuja’s Idu Station for Kaduna at 6 a.m., 11.55 a.m. and 5.45 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; and departs Kaduna’s Rigasa Station for Abuja at 9 a.m., 2.50 p.m. and 8.40 p.m.,’’ the source said.

According to the source, the reconstruction at the Abuja airport is going according to schedule, and expressed optimism that the airport will reopen after six weeks as planned.

The official is also involved in the presidential supervision of the airport closure and oversight.

The source also said the Aviation Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had been working diligently to minimise the inconvenience caused by the closure.

The committee had launched series of customer engagement initiatives to enable passengers and travellers affected by the closure (of NAIA) get up-to-date information and updates.

These include a Call Centre (open 7a.m to 10p.m Mondays to Fridays and 10a.m to 4p.m Saturdays and Sundays), a website (AbujaAirportClosure.info), and a Twitter handle (@ABVClosure).

 


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