Abuja Airport Closure: Six Weeks Deadline Not Feasible, Reps Say After Inspection

The lawmakers made this known during an oversight function to the airport to inspect the level of progress of works carried out.

Speaking to newsmen after the visit, the chairman of the committee, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, stated that from the observation carried out by the committee, the work may not be completed by the scheduled six weeks deadline.

She also stated that the contractors appeared to be carrying out a mere resurfacing of the runway as against the agreed total reconstruction, adding that a lot is yet to be done with a view to meet the deadline.

“I have my concerns from what I have seen because the work is divided into three phases and they’re on the first phase and from a layman’s angle, which I am, I’m saying that I have concern that the work will not be completed but they keep saying it will be completed,” she said.

“What we’ve seen is the civil aspect but we are concerned about the mechanical, particularly around the lightening of the runway.”

“That’s the point; they said it’s a total resurfacing but when we come to the board, they’ve to explain to us the level of implementation to what they signed.

“Of course, we’ve the papers to what agreement they signed. We have concerns from what we’ve seen on the ground. We’ve the issue of whether it’s total reconstruction or resurfacing.

“But those things will be explained through the books. They said they’ll start the lightening of the runway by Wednesday.”

The Federal Government had earlier on Monday assured travelers that the airport will be reopened by the end of the six weeks deadline.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, same Monday vowed to resign if the airport is not reopened in three weeks.

Recall that the Abuja Airport was closed down for six weeks for rehabilitation of the runway, Mach 6, 2017 to April 19, 2017.

The government earlier this month set up a website: www.abujaairportclosure.info, through which information will be shared with Nigerians.