The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday hailed the timely completion of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Mr Segun Adeyemi, Mohammed said that the timely completion showed that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration could surmount daunting challenges.
He
expressed delight that the airport was reopened for flight operations on Tuesday after it was closed for six weeks for the runway repair.
expressed delight that the airport was reopened for flight operations on Tuesday after it was closed for six weeks for the runway repair.
”Indeed,
the closure of the Abuja airport and the logistic nightmare it
triggered must rank among the most intimidating challenges faced by this
administration.
“Its ability to live up
to expectation by delivering the project even before the scheduled date
has further confirmed that Nigerians elected a responsive, responsible
and capable leaders in 2015.”
and capable leaders in 2015.”
Mohammed
lauded the handling of all that had to do with the closure of the Abuja
airport and temporary relocation to Kaduna airport by the relevant
ministries and security agencies.
According to him, the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna Road
by
the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the provision of non-invasive but effective security on the highway are commendable.
by
the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the provision of non-invasive but effective security on the highway are commendable.
The
minister hailed the Ministry of Transportation for ensuring that the
Kaduna airport was able to handle a large number of flights.
He said that these showed that Nigerians had what it would take to make the country a proud member of the comity of nations.
Mohammed
said: ”It is to the credit of the security agencies and the Federal
Road Safety Corps that passengers travelling on the ever-busy
Abuja-Kaduna Highway were largely kept safe while the closure of the
Abuja airport lasted.
“There was no known
security scare, while accidents on the road were kept at the barest
minimum, despite the increased vehicular traffic.
“Who
can forget the timely departure and arrival of the Abuja-Kaduna train that ferried thousands of passengers back and forth during the Abuja airport closure?’’
can forget the timely departure and arrival of the Abuja-Kaduna train that ferried thousands of passengers back and forth during the Abuja airport closure?’’
The minister said that the feat should not be trivialised because the runway deteriorated for more than 30 years.
Mohammed said that it was commendable that the runway was fixed in spite of the economic recession.
He
noted that the Port Harcourt International Airport was closed for
almost two years at a time the country was witnessing a more favourable
economic situation.
Mohammed thanked Nigerians for enduring the inconveniences that came with the relocation of Abuja flights to Kaduna.
He
also thanked Ethiopian Airlines that operated its scheduled Abuja
flights to Kaduna when other international carriers turned their back.
Mohammed commended the Julius Berger Construction Company which delivered the project before schedule.
”The
success recorded in the timely reconstruction of the Abuja airport
runway can only rank next to the determined effort with which the
Federal Government contained the Boko Haram insurgency.
“We
assure Nigerians that this administration is employing the same uncommon determination to tackle all the challenges facing the country,” he said.
assure Nigerians that this administration is employing the same uncommon determination to tackle all the challenges facing the country,” he said.
Mohammed said the challenges included pervasive corruption, insecurity, unemployment and infrastructural decay.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Abuja airport was shut on
March 8 for six weeks to enable Julius Berger to rehabilitate the 3.6km
runway.
The runway, which was
constructed in 1982, was meant to last for 20 years, but had been in use
for 35 years without any major repair and proper maintenance.
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