FG to rehabilitate Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway, Abuja with N1bn

Nnamdi-Azikiwe-International-Airport The Federal Government is to rehabilitate Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway, Abuja, with about one billion naira.

A reliable source from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), disclosed this to aviation correspondents in Lagos on Sunday.

The runway had been in bad state due to overuse and had been a source of concern to Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers.

The source said the Minister of State, Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had set up a committee to oversee the work.

“Government is making urgent effort to start the rehabilitation of the runway at the Abuja airport and government has provided funds for the work, which could start anytime from now.

“The committee is expected to schedule the maintenance dates, which are expected to run from days to weeks.

“It is expected to also decide whether the runway would be closed daily or some hours of the day so that work could start on the facility”, the source added.

According to the source, Sirika had designated Kaduna airport as alternative to Abuja so that flights would be diverted to Kaduna while work is ongoing at the nation’s second busiest airport.

The source further disclosed that the project had been advertised and Gilmore, Julius Berger and PW had bided for the project.

The source said: ”After the committee’s final presentation to the Minister, he will be expected to discuss with the National Security Adviser to agree on the date work would start on the runway.

“The Abuja airport will be certified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. The process for certification will end by March 2017.

“The airport has been chosen as the pilot for the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s No Country Left Behind campaign.”

The Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, also confirmed the rehabilitation plan for the Abuja airport.

She noted that all efforts were being made to ensure the runway was restored to international standard.

Comments

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog