Four days after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) shut down Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for the resurfacing of the runway, the repair is yet to commence, BusinessDay’s findings show.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns on why the airport was shut down if FAAN had no plans on ground to immediately commence repairs, as airlines and passengers face inconvenience trying to link alternate airports.
The Enugu airport was remodelled in 2010 when former President Goodluck Jonathan upgraded it to international status. Minor resurface works have since then been carried out at the airport while the runway has continued to cave in.
The repair is coming at a time of increased insecurity on Nigerian roads, deteriorated roads infrastructure, especially with the rainy season, and depletion of aircraft size, making it increasingly difficult for airlines to meet demands.
Olumide Ohunayo, head research and corporate travel, Zenith Consult and Travel, told BusinessDay that contractors have yet to report at the airport which is critical as the only international airport in the South-East.
“As at the time they closed the airport, I expected all the necessary materials to be in place. What was the rush to close it when the contractor was not ready?” Ohunayo queried.
In March 2017, Hadi Sirika, the minister of state for aviation, had promised to repair the Abuja runway in six weeks and it was completed within the timeframe.
However, no specific timeframe has been given for the completion of the repair on the Enugu airport runway as the airport was shut indefinitely.
According to Ohunayo, concerned authorities need to make the repairs as quick as possible considering that fact the airport is strategic for South-East region. He said arrangement must be made for airlines and passengers to access alternate airports such as Owerri, Asaba and Port Harcourt.
“I expected that before the shutdown of Enugu airport, the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, Owerri road and Enugu-Onitsha Expressway should be in motorable condition. Sadly, these have not been done. Adequate security has not been provided for travellers that will be landing at Owerri, Port Harcourt or Asaba,” Ohunayo said.
“The road networks are not in good shape. This will have a huge effect on South-Eastern states and businesses there. We hope the government can fix the runway with the same dedication it did during Abuja runway repair,” he said.
Ohunayo suggested that the government may not need to shut down the entire airport as provisions can be made for smaller aircraft to land and take off from Enugu airport, while repairs are being carried out.
Air Peace operates eight flights in and out of Enugu from Lagos and Abuja daily. Ethiopian Airlines operated three times weekly into the airport.
With an average of 150 passengers in an aircraft on local destination, Air Peace airlifts about 1,200 passengers daily and 8,400 passengers weekly in and out of the airport. With an average of 250 passengers on an international flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines airlifts an average of 750 passengers weekly in and out of the airport. This translates to an average of 9,150 passengers flown in and out of the airport weekly.
While business owners around Enugu airport are bound to experience low patronage this period, it seems to be a merry moment for business owners and airlines that operate into Port Harcourt, Owerri and Asaba airports.
BusinessDay’s checks show that Arik is making plans to commence operations into Asaba airport and airlines have increased airfares into the alternate airports.
An average one-way ticket into Asaba, Owerri and PH which used to cost N25,000 to N28,000 now costs N33,000 to N38,000, representing between 12 percent and 15 percent increase, respectively. There are indications that these prices will still increase going forward.
John Ojikutu, member of aviation industry think tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART), and chief executive of Centurion Securities, told BusinessDay that if government must make heavy, main repairs or reconstruction for Enugu runway, it has to be upgraded to accommodate heavy aircraft.
“Runways are constructed with periodic maintenance programmes, but how many of FAAN airports have the maintenance programmes? That explains why PH was closed for two years for reconstruction purpose. That is the Nigeria way that cannot be compared to that of Scotland or anywhere else,” he said.
Ojikutu explained that proper planning means having maintenance programmes which Nigerian airports do not have on their runways, adding that since 2017 after the Abuja runway experience, FAAN has been asked to provide maintenance programmes for runways but has failed to do so.
IFEOMA OKEKE
