Abuja Airport Runway Now 57.5% Completed – Minister

The reconstruction of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, has reached 57.5% completion, mid-way into the six
weeks earmarked for the project, the Minister of State for Aviation,
Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed in Abuja on Thursday.

“Work is going on smoothly as you can see. We have taken you round and
everything is in order,” Senator Sirika said when the Minister of
Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, led a team of
journalists on an inspection tour of the project.

“The contractor has mobilised fully and we have now gone about 57.5%
of the total work, which is good, which shows that we are on course,
which shows that we are on time, which shows that we are doing what we
are supposed to do to ensure that the runway is opened come 19th of
April,” he said.

The Minister of State for Aviation said in addition to the opening of
the runway at the expiration of the six-week target, an upgraded
terminal to ensure passenger comfort, in line with the protocol of the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), will also be ready.

“This airport will be opened come 19th of April and it will not only
be opened at the time but the terminal building will wear a new look.
We are doing a complete rehabilitation of Terminal D of the
International Airport. We will put escalators and lifts at the
terminal and also we are opening a lounge for the physically
challenged and the elderly,” he said

Senator Sirika said work on the runway is also going on simultaneously
with lighting installation and laying of cables, which have also
reached an advanced stage.

He said for the first time in Nigeria, glasphalt – a variety of
asphalt that uses crushed glass – is being used to reinforce the
runway and also prevent cracks.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture said the
inspection tour is aimed at providing first-hand experience for the
journalists on the progress so far made on the reconstruction of the
runway.

“Last week Tuesday, we took a trip by train to Kaduna together. We
experienced the train ride, we saw the train station and the
Honourable Minister (of State for Aviation) received us at the
airport, where we were taken round the operations at the Kaduna
Airport and we came back together by road to give you a wholesome and
complete experience of the efforts we have put in place to ensure
minimal inconvenience and maximum security and safety, occasioned by
the temporary closure of the airport

“We believe it’s only fitting that we bring you here today, since we
have three weeks gone from the six weeks we promised, for you to come
and see the extent of work that has been done,” he said.