John Shiklam writes on the level of preparedness at the Kaduna Airport, following the planned diversion of international flights from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna
It is serious business at the Kaduna Airport as contractors and officials of the airport work all day to meet the March 8 deadline for the diversion of flights from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna approaches.
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is expected to be closed for six weeks to pave way for rehabilitation of its runway.
Kaduna Airport was chosen as the alternative route during the period although some international airlines had rejected the choice of the airport citing security and the distance from Kaduna to Abuja by road as their reasons for the rejection.
As the D-Day approaches, there has been increased tempo on upgrading of facilities and putting finishing touches in readiness for the diversion.
Just recently, precisely on February 17, the Ministerial Sub-Committee on the movement of airport operations from Abuja to Kaduna headed by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police,
Alhaji Alkali Baba Usman, was at the airport to ensure that every security measure has been put in place for the safety of passengers from the Kaduna Airport to Abuja and from Abuja to Kaduna.
Usman who inspected parametre fences around the airport as well as neighbouring communities in the area, told journalists during the visit that all aspects of security at the airport have reached 90 per cent completion.
He explained that the mandate of his committee is to ensure that there is security on the road, the runway, the terminal and the entire airport.
“We are to ensure that passengers from Abuja to Kaduna or Kaduna to Abuja are protected. So far so good from what we have seen from Abuja to Kaduna, all aspects of preparations in terms of security were 90 per cent okay. That is to say our level of deployment on the road has been assessed.”
He said further that as part of the security strategies, certain places have been earmarked to put static phones, while other places have been earmarked for patrol both in and out of Abuja to Kaduna.
“We have inspected the parametre fence in the airport, we have made arrangements to protect the entire equipment and the building.
“So far so good, this is the first time we are coming and by the grace of God, by the time we come back again, everything must have been on the ground,” he said.
He assured that everything regarding security would be in place before the March 8 deadline slated for the diversion of international flights from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna Airport.
He said some of those handling things that are yet to be completed, had assured that they will be completed before the D-Day.
He allayed fears about the security situation in Kaduna, saying that adequate steps have been taken to ensure safety of travelers.
“We have met with the team of security officers in Kaduna and they have assured us that they have put strategies in place to ensure that all hotels and other places of interest are protected and guided.
“There is going to be increased patrol visibility of security agents to ensure that law and order succeeds. I am satisfied with the security situation in Kaduna from the assurances we have received from security agencies.
“We want to assure that all hands are on deck to ensure the success of the relocation,” the AIG said in an interview during the visit.
Also the Chairman of Movement of Flights from Abuja to Kaduna, Captain Mohammed Joji, disclosed that all the necessary equipment had been installed at the airport for safe and smooth flight operations.
Joji who is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Sky Power Express as well as the Secretary General, Aircraft Operators of Nigeria said his committee was in charge of equipment at the airport.
“As far as instrumentation is concerned, the security apparatus at the airport is okay. The runway is one of the best,” he said.
According to him, state of the art equipment like Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) Localiser, Glides and others have been installed and have been tested.
He added that the calibrator will soon be brought to certify that all the equipment are functioning well.
He added further that a solar equipment had been installed at the airport to ensure 24-hour power supply.
According to Joji, “The instrument we have installed means aircraft can land safely without much visibility on the ground.
As far as the security of landing is concerned, it is as good as Heathrow Airport.
“We have tested everything and every equipment is working fine. As far as this airport is concerned, it is very good.
“We are happy with the instrumentation, the installation and everything is alright,” he emphasised.
He said the airlines that have decided not to fly to Kaduna took such decision out of skepticism.
“It is skepticism because there are optimists and there are pessimists. Optimists believe that things can easily be done and it will work. Pessimists fear that it will not work, they don’t want to come so they want to create fear.
“As far as we are concerned, all the airports in the United Kingdom, apart from Heathrow and Gatwick that you can land aeroplane without seeing the ground, there is no airport in the United Kingdom that can be as higher as Kaduna Airport.
“As far as we are concerned, we are comfortable, we are happy about it. The Kaduna Airport is excellent compared to others because the equipment are brand new. These are the most newest equipment that had been installed, they are digital,” he argued.
Work on the remodeling and expansion of the terminal which started in 2012 has reached 92 per cent completion, according to the site engineer, Kazeem Keji, who is supervising the project for the contractors, Dari Investment Limited.
“We have completed every major construction work on the terminal. We have finished the fixing of tiles. As you can see, we have commenced the fixing of ceilings, air conditioners and other electrical fittings.
“We have finished the major work. Ninety-two per cent of the work has been done and by the end of this month (February) everything will be completed and the place will be ready for use.
“As you can see, this terminal will be one of the best, if not the best in the country,” Keji said proudly.
Manager of the Kaduna Airport, Mrs. Amina Ozi Salama, said everything was being done to ensure that the airport is ready before the March 8 deadline.
Speaking in an interview in her office, she said the contractors have been working around the clock to meet the dateline.
She said the runway was the best in the country and is in good condition, adding that the capacity of the airport has been enhanced to accommodate many aircrafts.
According to her, the lighting of the runway is near completion adding that more manpower would be deployed from Abuja to the airport for efficient services.
She disclosed further that fire service, safety and navigational equipment have been upgraded according to international standards and regulation.
She said further that the management of the airport has been making efforts to stop people from villages surrounding the airport from trespassing, adding that some vandalised parts of the perimetre fence are being reconstructed.
Similarly, the Kaduna State government, the greatest beneficiary of the relocation is also contributing its quota by embarking on the expansion of the airport road as well as the installation of street lights along the road.
The rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way by the state government is also going just as it embarked on the construction of a five kilometre road connecting the airport road from the Forestry School with the Rigasa train terminus to ensure safe and faster movement for travelers.
The state’s Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Alhaji Hassan Usman Mahmud, told journalists during a visit to the project that the new road is a short route for faster movement of travelers.
“From the airport, it will take 15 minutes to come to the railway terminus. We have been working day and night to make sure that the job is completed before the relocation of international flights to Kaduna. Two contractors are working on the road to meet the deadline,” he said.
The contractors handling the various projects, especially the road projects and installation of street lights will have to really perform some magic to be able to meet the dateline.
What is however lacking at the airport is hotel accommodation, banking services and a standard catering services for travelers.
Travelers will have to drive to the town for hotel accommodation and standard catering services as there is no indication that hotels and banks will spring up at the airport before the diversion.
It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to drive from the airport to the town depending on the traffic situation.
Taxi drivers and hoteliers are already warming up for a boom in their businesses during the period of the diversion.
