Keyamo breaks silence on Enugu airport runway repairs
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has expressed disapproval of the repair work carried out on the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Daily Trust had reported how the Federal Government announced the temporary closure of the airport for emergency repairs of the runway.
This came hours after Air Peace, one of the airlines operating to the airport, suspended flights temporarily citing safety concerns.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah in a statement confirming the shutdown stated that there was a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway.
The repairs are expected to run for two weeks (April 22 to May 6).
Speaking on the development in an X post, Keyamo said the closure became necessary due to the deteriorating condition of the runway, which now poses a serious safety risk to air travellers.
He said although the runway was shut down for a year in August 2019 for total rehabilitation and the contract was awarded to a contractor, the problem is yet to abate.
The minister said: “Dear compatriots, we have been compelled to take this decision to close the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for two weeks starting from April 22nd, 2025, in order to carry out major repair works on it. We sincerely apologise to Nigerians over this development as the airport is our major international gateway in the Southeastern part of Nigeria.
“It will be recalled that this same development led to the closure of the runway in August 2019 for one whole year and the contract for the total rehabilitation was awarded to a contractor. Unfortunately, when we came to office, we discovered that waterlogged part of the runway was not properly constructed to take care of the problem, leading to constant cracks and potholes on the runway. These obviously put the lives of the travelling public at great risk. We have been carrying out constant palliative works on it, but the problem has not abated and the cracks on the runway are becoming craters. I personally visited the airport some months after assuming office and expressed my total displeasure with the work done by the contractor.
“In the meantime, scheduled flight operations to Enugu will be diverted to other neighbouring airports. We are going to work tirelessly to meet the timeline in order to mitigate the inconvenience this closure will cause the travelling public.”
