Cooly100:

Releases N1.7 billion for Intl Wing
Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu
The federal government on Monday lamented that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu would not enjoy full international certification until the myriads of challenges constituting security threats at the airport are fully addressed.

The government specifically frowned at the activities of some individuals who had erected properties around the airport, insisting that such properties should be demolished immediately.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who stated this after an inspection tour of facilities at the airport, said the federal government had already released N1.7billion for construction work to continue at the international wing of the airport, stressing that more money would be made available when the 2018 was released for completion work.

Explaining that government was determined to realise the completion of the airport in record time, the minister said full international flight would only commence with the removal and relocation of several property obstructing the runway, security and flight operations.

Some of the offending properties, according to him, are the multi-million naira Enugu Empower free trade zone, whose foundation was laid in 2016 by the state government; the Orie Emene market; television and radio stations masts, residential buildings as well as fencing of the airport.

Sirika, who lamented the level of encroachment at the Enugu airport, stated that the runway expansion which the incumbent administration embarked upon had been hampered by encroachment, stressing that “people willingly set up structures along the runways.

“Government decided to expand the runway from 2.5 kilometres to three km to accommodate more international flights and cargoes, but stopped midway because people built within 100 metres on the runway. We need to dam the river to enable us use the water to service the airport.

“The Orie market is a security threat. There is an abattoir in the market that attracts vultures which portends danger to flights. There is a road leading to the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR) which is in terrible state. It functions 24 hours because it guides pilots in their flights.

“Without this, this airport cannot be operated. The road is 1.5 kilometres and we need to build it because it is impassible during the rainy season.”

The minister who later paid a courtesy call on the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, explained that unless the security concerns at the airport were addressed, the certification of the airport to an international status would not be possible.

He called on the state government to do the needful as he would do all in his abilities to ensure that Enugu was given its rightful status in view of its economic viability.

The governor had told the minister that he would do all in his ability to ensure that the airport gets an international status to enhance Enugu’s economic and social status.

He pleaded with the minister to put all the requests in writing as quickly as possible in order to fasten the issues raised even as he immediately asked the Ministry of Enugu Capital Territory to immediately demolish the structures located few metres from the airport runway.



Read more http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/03/06/why-akanu-ibiam-airport-has-not-enjoyed-full-international-certification-by-minister/

Digitron:
ENUGU DIAGNOSTIC CENTER NEARING COMPLETION

Digitron:

The South East Governors Forum after an extensive meeting in Enugu today resolved to undertake the construction of Ring road that would connect all the states of the zone, covering 430 kilometers, to promote economic development and integration as well as ease of transportation in the region.

In a communique read by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, who was accompanied by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, the body expressed deep appreciation to the governors and the people of the South East zone for "the way they worked together to give the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme a befitting burial and enjoined them to continue in such spirit to move the South East States forward ".

The Forum also commended "very highly" Gov. Ugwuanyi for all the activities that took place in Enugu State during the funeral programmes and equally appreciated his counterpart from Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano for the events that happened in his state as well as the contributions of other governors of the zone.

Engr. Umahi said that the Forum took presentation for Gas Pipelines in the region and advised the Consultants to follow up on details of implementation especially as it relates to right of way, adding that it commended the presentation by Prof. Bart Nnaji on Aba Independent Power Project and asked him to liaise with its secretariat for further implementation with the Presidency.

The Forum's Chairman disclosed that the governors intervened on the crisis rocking the South East Traditional Rulers' Council and directed that the five State Chairmen of the Council be invited for amicable resolution of their issues in the next meeting of the Forum.

Other outcomes of the meeting were presentations on several issues, especially, from National Addressing System of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) on assessment of MDAs for effective performance.

The Chairman noted that a private business enterprise presented a Lottery business proposal in the zone to the Forum, with the body requesting the presenter to reach out to various states for further deliberation.

ChimaAdeoye:


It is a mark of the SE Governors lack of vision to be talking about ring "roads" intead of talking about ring "RAILWAY LINES".

What difference would another two lane road connecting Onitsha to Nsukka or Enugu to Owerri make? They need to work on building standard rail gauge to connect the entire region to the Onne Port. In that way, exporters and importers can import through ONNE and rail their goods to whatever town where they are located at very cheap prices.

The SE Governors only need to seek permission for the project since Nigerian constitution puts railway in exclusive list.

ChimaAdeoye:


It is a mark of the SE Governors lack of vision to be talking about ring "roads" intead of talking about ring "RAILWAY LINES".

What difference would another two lane road connecting Onitsha to Nsukka or Enugu to Owerri make? They need to work on building standard rail gauge to connect the entire region to the Onne Port. In that way, exporters and importers can import through ONNE and rail their goods to whatever town where they are located at very cheap prices.

The SE Governors only need to seek permission for the project since Nigerian constitution puts railway in exclusive list.

spyder880:
Which building is this, I think it's inside UNEC?

ChimaAdeoye:


It is a mark of the SE Governors lack of vision to be talking about ring "roads" intead of talking about ring "RAILWAY LINES".

What difference would another two lane road connecting Onitsha to Nsukka or Enugu to Owerri make? They need to work on building standard rail gauge to connect the entire region to the Onne Port. In that way, exporters and importers can import through ONNE and rail their goods to whatever town where they are located at very cheap prices.

The SE Governors only need to seek permission for the project since Nigerian constitution puts railway in exclusive list.

asha80:
i wish business concerns are flooding enugu the way estates are springing up

ARROBA:
Enugu airport obstructing masts to be dismantled.

At last the Enugu state government has given approval for the dismantling of two obstructing masts on runway 08 and a community market at the other end to ensure security. The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Engr Saleh Dunoma disclosed this in a chat with aviation journalists at the gateway forum of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents in Lagos. According to Engr Dunoma, the governor of Enugu state last week during the visit of aviation Minister to the governor ordered the dismantling of the two masts and relocation of the community market to give way for proper expansion and to ensure security of the airport. Dunoma explained that restiveness from communities around the airport has warded off contractors installing the lighting facilities at the airport adding that all the lighting facilities were on ground but could not be installed as a result of hostilities from the communities around the airport. It will be recalled that concerned authorities in the aviation sector had on several occasions called for actions in the dismantling of two obstructing masts on the runway 08 of the Akanu Ibiam international airport Enugu as it posed as danger to safety. The masts which remained threat to air safety are located at the take off end of the runway 08 of the Akanu Ibiam international airport Enugu making it difficult for aircraft to ascend directly. Daily Times carried out investigation with a visit to the manager of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, who disclosed that several letters have been written to both NCAA and the Enugu state government to dismantle one of masts belonging to Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) while the NCAA should carry out its oversight functions. A source told our correspondent that the people charged with the responsibility of bringing down the masts were either playing politics or waiting for the worst to happen before they take action. “We can not continue like this and watch things go bad. For goodness sake, we have the authorities in charge of this and they are waiting for calamity to occur before they swing into action, it’s really bad” International flight operations commenced in Enugu in 2013 with the introduction of the only international airline, Ethiopian Airlines which led to the expansion of the runway from its original condition of 2,500 metres length to 3,000 metres length or 3km to be able to accommodate medium size and big aircraft. It was gathered that the Enugu state government has done little or nothing to improve the status of the airport by constructing facilities such as Very Important Personality lounge like the Kaduna sand Imo state governments did to compliment the contributions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. It was gathered further that the airport risks certification hence the government especially the Enugu state, must work with the FAAN management to dismantle the barriers.

Read more at: https://dailytimes.ng/enugu-airport-obstructing-masts-dismantled/

cjrane:


The sad part of these useless tales they invent is that the FAAN and Federal Govt. have no desire whatsoever to develop Akanu Ibiam into a true international airport. Apart from Lagos and Abuja, their drive now is to develop Kano and Kaduna as hubs. Unfortunately Kaduna does not have what it takes to support a true international airport and being only 2 hours from Abuja on road, Abuja will always be a preferred airport to Kaduna.

All the tales these FG officials are talking about plans to demolish everything in Enugu, yet they have not talked about building a mere taxi way or even install Instrument landing system (ILS) to enable the airport take night flights. Mind you northern airports all have ILS, yet they are just seasonal airports for Hajj. If Stella Odua had not paid 100% of the cost of Enugu terminal before she left office, they would have done what they did to second Niger bridge to that terminal project.

The FG should concession AIIA, Enugu so that a private developer will take over and develop the airport. We know their deceit of playing to the gallery, demanding what should be demolished and hoping they will be impossible demands that will buy them time and yet nothing will be done to develop the airport on the FG side at the end of the day. After they demolish that mast and Eke oye market, they will still ask for more buildings more than 3 storeys to be demolished in Emene, yet they won't install any facilities nor complete the taxiway to look like other international airports in Nigeria.

ChimaAdeoye:


Truly don't mind demolishing anything that is in the path of the runway or taxiway to make the airport completely safe for foreign international airlines to operate day or night. International standards need to be enforced in the closest permissible distance to a runway or taxiway. Also, the airport need to be fenced south of ekulo river to make it safe for any international dignitary or any type of cargo freights so that the standard of security at the airport is at par with any international airport in the world.

My ONLY problem is that the Minister for transport was concentrating too much on external obstacles without mentioning the internal obstacles too. Some people will always test the government's will to enforce safety standards by building where they are not supposed to build. Like the new private house just built in the picture. Those should be demolished at once without compensation.

As for the Orie-Market, i think they can do a phased relocation to a new site. They can immediately relocate the abattoir and ban sale of meat in the market to discourage vultures from coming to the market and then do the final relocation in a year or so.

Likewise, the airforce classrooms or whatever that was built where the taxiway should pass must also be demolished.

spyder880:
I started a new project in Akpuoga town last week, just behind the NNPC depot, to my surprise, there are only one single story buildings allowed to be built in the new layout, despite the high demand for new flats. I wanted to know why, I was told that FAAN instructed that only one story buildings can be built here because its along the flight landing path.

Whoever knows Enugu will know that the location I am talking about is a good 1 kilometre or more before the airport, and this condition is given to almost the whole of Emene, Thinkers corner and some parts of Abakpa not to build any high structures.

Is this correct, is this not an excuse to limit housing development just because there's an airport a kilometre away? Where else in Nigeria, or the world is this practice being implemented? When I see New York City with skyscrapers, I wonder if an airport is in New York?

spyder880:
I started a new project in Akpuoga town last week, just behind the NNPC depot, to my surprise, there are only one single story buildings allowed to be built in the new layout, despite the high demand for new flats. I wanted to know why, I was told that FAAN instructed that only one story buildings can be built here because its along the flight landing path.

Whoever knows Enugu will know that the location I am talking about is a good 1 kilometre or more before the airport, and this condition is given to almost the whole of Emene, Thinkers corner and some parts of Abakpa not to build any high structures.

Is this correct, is this not an excuse to limit housing development just because there's an airport a kilometre away? Where else in Nigeria, or the world is this practice being implemented? When I see New York City with skyscrapers, I wonder if an airport is in New York?

horsepower101:


Oga Spyder880,

I am sorry, but I don't know the answer to your question but I want to plead with you to update us on housing developments in 042.

You are opportuned to drive around and you are at the forefront of developments. Please update this thread ezigbo nwannem nwoke. Thanks.