Chineme Okafor in Abuja
The federal government tuesday said it had completed the repair works it started on the Abuja-Kaduna highway preparatory to its closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for repair of its runway and subsequent diversion of air traffic to the Kaduna Airport.
A statement from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja stated that the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, inaugurated the completed emergency repair works on the 330 kilometres road network. Fashola was however represented by the Director, Federal Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Yemi Oguntominiyi.
The statement was signed by Theodore Ogaziechi, a Deputy Director for Information in the ministry.
It quoted Fashola to have said that the intended closure of the Abuja airport on March 8, 2017, for the runway repair works would last for a period of six weeks.
Fashola also said in the statement that the 50-day contract to Messer’s CGC Nigeria Limited was worth slightly above N1 billion, and that it was done to accidents, kidnapping, robbery, elongated travel time and high vehicle operating cost from failed portions and potholes on the road.
He also stated that he was satisfied with the job done by the contractor within the short period, adding that he was expecting his counterpart in the aviation sector, Hadi Sirika, to deliver on the repair works of the runway of the Abuja airport within the stipulated six weeks taking a cue from Messer’s CGC Nigeria Limited.