TheCable

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has commenced rehabilitation of the runway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, 34 days after closure.

On August 24, FAAN announced the closure of the facility, which is the only international airport in the south-east region.

Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN corporate affairs manager, said the airport was closed owing to safety concerns over its operations.

“Work is yet to begin on the runway but it will soon, once the processes are concluded,” she had said.

But on Sunday, Yakubu confirmed that work has finally begun at the airport ahead of the December 2019 deadline set for the completion of the runway repairs and other renovation works.

Following the closure, flights by Ethiopian Airlines were diverted to Port Harcourt international airport in Rivers state.

Similarly, domestic flights were diverted to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri,  Port Harcourt airport and Asaba airport in Delta.

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, had in a meeting with south-east governors assured them that Enugu airport would be reconstructed to meet international standards.