– Federal Government of Nigeria might close the Abuja airport
– The minister said the Abuja airport runway had been neglected by previous governments, and wondered how pilots were coping with the facility
Minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika,
With the level of infrastructural decay at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Federal Government of Nigeria might close the airport soon, Punch is reporting.
The minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, was quoted to have disclosed this at an industry wide stakeholders’ forum organised by the federal ministry of transportation in Abuja to unveil the plans of the current government for the aviation sector.
The minister said the Abuja airport runway had been neglected over time by previous governments, and wondered how pilots were coping with the facility.
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He said he was tempted to shut the airport when he saw the level of dilapidation of the facility, adding that he would surely close the NAIA in the near future in order to ensure the safety of lives and property, especially as the raining season sets in.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you see slides on how the Abuja runway is at the moment, you won’t fly it. I was tempted this morning to close the airport, and I probably will. I probably will, for sure! This is the Abuja runway. It is this bad and this was just yesterday (Sunday),” Sirika said.
On the bloated workforce in some of the agencies under the ministry, the minister stated that there was no way he could work with the about 40 general managers in FAAN.
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“Even if I want, I don’t think I should indulge 40 general managers in FAAN; in fact, level 17. It is not the way to go, no! The structure must be slim, focused, clever, result-oriented, patriotic and be able to deliver the required services,” the minister stated.
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