From Suleiman Idris, Lagos
Supervising Minister of Aviation Dr. Samuel Ortom yesterday disclosed the international wing of the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu currently under construction will be completed by September 2015.
The Minister was on an inspection tour of the N11.6 billion project, initiated by his predecessor, Ms. Stella Oduah in the eastern state.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the site while he was assured of the completion date by the firm handling the project, the contractors, China Civil Engineering Company.
The airport is one of the five model terminals earmarked for construction under the aviation transformation agenda of the present administration.
He inspected the re-modelled old terminal, the pilgrim’s terminal, the pilots lodge and the general aviation building within the airport.
“I want to say that I am impressed with what I have seen. This is the whole essence of coming here since I resumed office. I have looked at what I have seen today on paper, but had to come to see things for myself so as to talk as an authority.”
“You can see that the old terminal has been completed and commissioned. The new terminal building, which is going to cost the Federal Government N11.6 billion; the work is progressively going on. I want say here that local content of this project is unimaginable. Over 400 Nigerians have been given jobs for this terminal project alone”, he told journalists.
He explained that “On the quality of work done, I am also impressed. My engineer on site has confirmed that they have no issues with the Chinese company handling the project; so I am equally impressed. I have gotten the assurance from the company that this project will be delivered to the Federal Government and to Nigerians by September, next year.”
