House of Reps seek presidential intervention in Enugu airport project
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/10/house-of-reps-seek-presidential.html
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, sought the intervention
of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure immediate commencement of
rehabilitation work on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
This is even as the South East caucus in the House, while briefing
newsmen, expressed total displeasure with the alleged slipshod approach
to the rehabilitation work by the Minister of Aviation, Hardi Sirika.
The House resolution followed a motion on matters of urgent public
importance brought before it by Toby Okechukwu and thirteen others on
the need to ensure speedy rehabilitation of the airport.
Toby Okechukwu, who is the deputy minority leader of the House, had
informed the House that on August 24, 2019, the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) closed the airport for rehabilitation works
on the runway.
He told the House that during his meeting with the South East
governors and stakeholders, when he visited Enugu, the Aviation
Minister, Sirika, had affirmed that the airport’s runway rehabilitation
would be completed by Christmas 2019.
However, he said it was alarming that after six weeks of closure, no
rehabilitation or reconstruction work had begun at the airport.
He said there were even no indications that the contractor would mobilise to site any time soon.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the major
arterial routes to other airports or leading to the South East had
become dilapidated.
Okechukwu told the House that the December deadline was fast
approaching but that no contractor was mobilised to site nor were funds
released for the airport work.
He expressed worry that the airport closure had exposed the
travelling public to avoidable inconveniences and frustrated their ease
of doing business.
He said the funding model for the renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, would save Akanu Ibiam International
Airport, Enugu, from protracted closure.
The lawmaker pointed out that the airport was critical to the safety,
economic and social lives of most Nigerians and foreign travellers.
In a unanimous adoption of the motion, the House presided over by
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamilla, in its resolutions, further mandated its
Committee on Aviation to interface with the aviation minister to ensure
immediate commencement of works.
It also called on the Works and Housing Ministry to, in the interim,
expedite action on repairs of the major roads leading to the alternative
routes and airports to alleviate the suffering of members of the
public.
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