My dear NLanders,

I'm beginning to wonder what's going on in the Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt International airport.
We were told that it will take only six months but now its taking forever.

Its only here in Nigeria that i hear that state govt lends funds to the Federal Govt to complete their projects.


Do u think that some other sources are also responsible for this delay?

Indeed; some powers that be are earning a living from the continuous shut down of the Port Harcourt Airport, now they are collecting money from world bank in the name of the closed airport.

i guess the Nigeria Airforce authorities are involved
because now the NAF base pH is more than an airport
their is always flights every day and the make a whole lot of money out of there .
so they dont care about the Intl airport.

Its really sad that the airport has not yet been completed.

There was a time Julius berger (and the sub contractors) had to leave due to threats from the militants, but we don't know what's going on now.

Port Harcourt airport opens
By Wole Shadare (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article04//indexn2_html?pdate=251207&ptitle=Port%20Harcourt%20airport%20opens


THE Port Harcourt International Airport, Amagwa, was formally re-opened yesterday for daytime flights pending the restoration of its Category Three Airfield Lightings.

At the event, which attracted dignitaries from the state, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, disclosed that he had sent a proposal to the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on how the state could buy over the facility.

In his address, Amaechi said the closure of the airport in August last year for a comprehensive refurbishment caused hardship to air travellers into and out of the state, considering the attendant risks associated with travelling over two hours to the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri to catch flights to other parts of the country and the outside world.

According to him, Port Harcourt serves as the nerve centre of activities in the Niger Delta, stressing that it was pathetic that the airport was closed for such a long time.

He, however, charged FAAN to speed up action in restoring the airport to 24-hour service before the end of next quarter to ensure that international airlines like Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa resume operations in the airport.

His words: "Today, we will be able to move to other parts of the world. I have asked the managing director of FAAN and the minister of Transportation to make sure that international airlines begin operations here. I have also told FAAN's managing director whether the airport can be bought from the Federal Government."

Some projects were approved for the airport, prior to its closure in August last year. These included runway resurfacing, Category Three Airfield Lighting System, improvement of power supply and improvement of water supply and hydrant system.

Others were the refurbishment of terminal building, car park and passenger apron expansion.

At the event, Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who arrived at the airport at about 9.30 a.m. in a Bombardier aircraft, said the airport was critical to economic activities in the region.

She said: "It is critical we open the airport for the yuletide and other activities in the area. We will make sure that the airport remains fully functional before the end of next quarter, next year. We shall be re-commissioning this airport for full flight by the end of next quarter."

Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, listed some of the projects in the airport that have been completed and ready for use as the runway resurfacing, improvement of water supply and hydrant system, car park expansion and the refurbishment of the terminal building.

According to him, the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), which is essential for safe flight operations, is already in use as it has since been installed and calibrated.

Aisuebeogun, however, stated that the Airfield Lighting System project would be completed in April 2008, "and until then, flight operations into the Port Harcourt International Airport will be restricted to daylight Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and to aircraft in the weight category of Boeing 727 and other aircraft types below this category."

At the event were former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas; Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Tele Ikuru; Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren and Managing Director, Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Chike Ogeah, among others.

Arnold1:

Its really sad that the airport has not yet been completed.

There was a time Julius berger (and the sub contractors) had to leave due to threats from the militants, but we don't know what's going on now.

Is there anything that starts in Nigeria that sees completion? Why the surprise?  

Please go and ask "the state mis-governor!

Odili has made his money from his plane and airfield he built so the airport can now open.

It is only in Nigeria an Int'l airport will be shut for a year. then in that space of time, a man will build his own airport ( and deceive us that it is NAF base) and charge passengers twice the fare for a 45 minute air journey.

according to the story its not fully operational
And we cant say that the job is completed yet