The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated that the Authority is collaborating with the government of Enugu State to address the menace of airport encroachment at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Capt. Yadudu made the disclosure today, following a joint facilities inspection visit to the airport by the Management of FAAN and the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Expressing his gratitude to Governor Ugwuanyi for his swift response to this issue by directing that all illegal structures on the airport be demolished after a week’s notice of evacuation, he noted that human habitation within the airport’s airfield is a safety concern to the Authority because of the heavy equipment that moves within the environment.
The MD, who also held a town hall meeting with staff of the airport where he assured them of Management’s commitment to improved facilities and infrastructure, added that the Authority will continue to ensure safe and secured airports in Nigeria.
It is expected that when the structures at the airfield is cleared FAAN will install other critical facilities to enable flights operate in the night at the airport.
The agency had earlier stated that all the equipment for the approach light and airfield lighting had been procured but they could not be installed because the state government could not clear the places where the facilities and equipment could be installed.
So with successful evacuation of the illegal residents FAAN would ugrade facilities at the airport.
FAAN said it is willing to pipe water from Ekulu Rivers at its own expense to the airport, if the state government could give approval for FAAN to source the water.
The agency had said during inspection of the airport last year, “We saw during our tour that the instrument landing system, the approach field lighting system have been acquired by government but the only problem is the deployment. As a result of the extension of the runway, you need to put all those aids in place. Also, it is not under the purview of the state government to make space available; it has to do with the state government.
Now that the state government has shown commitment to creating enabling environment for the upgrade of the airport, FAAN is poised to install all the critical equipment to enhance safety and easy flight operations from the airport.
