The Chairman of House Committee on Aviation Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, has expressed concern over the planned closure of Enugu Airport, saying it will have adverse effect on the socio economy of the South-east.
Nnaji, regretted that the closure was coming at a time travelling by road in region has become a nightmare due to the pre- vailing security challenges. He, however, stressed that his committee would work assiduously with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that the repair works are completed within the stipulated time.
Nnaji, however, called on the federal government to come up with special grants to Enugu State Government to enable it cope with the increased demand for security and maintenance of roads that would serve the diverted traffic from the Enugu airport.
He, equally appealed to the Ministry of Works to ensure that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was adequately mobilised to carry out some urgent repair works on the various access roads between Enugu and alternate airports that would serve Enugu Traffic during the period.
He said he was not happy that the Enugu airport runway collapsed within six years of its re- construction but assured that his committee would raise questions on the matter very soon.
“By my investigation, a standard runway should have a life span of thirty years so if that runway could collapse under six years some people have to give us explanations.
“The country is going through some difficult times economically and there are so many things contesting
for the scarce resources so we cannot afford to have huge tax payers’ money go down the drains just like that,” he said.
He stated that if in the course of the findings, the House discovers that the contractor did a shoddy job on the collapsed run- way, it will not go scot-free. Nnaji, who represents Nkanu East/ West in the House of Representatives further assured that his committee would not witch hunt anyone but stressed that it would strive to ensure that the right things are done to keep the nation’s aviation sector is safe and reliable.
He further added that the house was prepared to work closely with the executive arm of the government to improve air travel in the country.
However, the Enugu air- port runway has collapsed making its rehabilitation and airport closure inevitable.
