Abuja Airport Closure: FG Assures Safety at Kaduna Airport

Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika (middle), Deputy British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson (L) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Alh. Sabiu Zakari (R) during the meeting yesterday.

The Federal Government has given its words on the safety and security of airport users at the Kaduna Airport as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will be closed for repairs in February 2017.  The Minister of state for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said, “there is adequate provision of security for passengers who will be using the Kaduna Airport for the period the Abuja Airport will be closed for repairs.”

The assurance was given when the Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms. Harriet Thompson paid a visit to the minister in his office to clarify issues surrounding the proposed closure of Abuja Airport for six weeks in February through March, 2017.

“The closure was to let the badly damaged airport runway be re-constructed”, said Sirika.  “The runway would still be put to use under the six months of reconstruction, but the six-week closure in February through March was to take advantage of the dry season to reconstruct the mid-section of the runway.”

The minister told Thompson that the Government has put in place adequate arrangement to provide buses to convey passengers to Abuja or to Train station depending on the choice of the passenger involved.

He added that a robust security arrangement involving the police, Civil Defence, Immigrations and Customs has been made to escort passengers from Kaduna to Abuja during the period Kaduna Airport will be used as alternative.

Emphasising on security and need for the closure of the airport, the minister said; “I would rather loose five billion dollars than to lose one person’”.

Reacting to Thompson on the involvement of the Airline Operators, the minister said all the stakeholders were involved.

Sirika further assured her of maximum comfort during the period of re-construction, while he appreciated the Deputy High Commissioner’s visit and the relationship between Nigeria and the Government of United Kingdom.

Ms. Thompson had earlier expressed fear on passengers’ safety within and from Kaduna to Abuja during the period Abuja Airport will be closed for re-construction.

She also expressed the hope that adequate information would be made available to airliners and passengers for necessary adjustment to their plans and operations.