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Tag: Akanu Ibiam International Airport

  • FG to reopen Enugu airport on Monday

    FG to reopen Enugu airport on Monday

    The Federal Government has announced that Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, will reopen for flight operations on Monday.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had on April 18 announced that due to a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway, the runway would be shut down for emergency repairs.

    The work was scheduled to begin on April 22nd and concluded before reopening on May 6th, 2025.

    Read Also: Pope Francis: The reformist who divided opinion

    During the closure, all scheduled flights to the airport would be diverted to nearby airports.

    However, FAAN, in a statement yesterday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, stated that rehabilitation works on the runway had been completed, and the runway cleared for landing and takeof by the engineers working with FAAN.

    The authority, while thanking all airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation when the airport was closed, apologised for the inconvenience.

    It also added that all actions were taken in the interest of safety.

  • Southeast governor writes Buhari over Enugu airport closure, herdsmen

    SOUTHEAST Governors’ Forum (SGF) on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to defer the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, till the end of October.

    They made the request in a letter signed by the Forum Chairman and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.

    In the letter, the governors said the postponement of the closer would enable them make adequate arrangements for airport users in the zone and to rehabilitate the airport.

    The Federal Government, through the spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, announced at the weekend that Akanu Ibiam International Airport would be shut for a major repair on the airfield.

    But the governors said the date for the planned closure did not give them enough time to make adequate security arrangement for the convenience of the people and visitors to the zone who would be travelling long distances to use alternative airports where flights would be diverted after the closure.

    They called on the President to direct the aviation sector of the Federal Ministry of Transport to provide immediate palliatives in form of transportation with armed escorts and helicopter services to prospective passengers from alternative airports that connect the zone.

    According to them, the Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the SGF, should be directed to carry out palliative repairs on the major roads leading to the alternative airports as well as clear all the bushes along the routes for better view of road users.

    Besides, they asked that 24-hour joint security patrol be provided for the safety of the people and visitors to the region who will be using roads for the  alternative airports.

    Read Also: Save Enugu Airport

    The letter reads: “The Southeast Governors’ Forum highly appreciates Your Excellency Mr. President for granting our request for the immediate resurfacing of the tarmac and extension of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for public safety.

    “May we use this opportunity to also thank you for the consistent progress of works at the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha and other Federal Government projects in the Southeast, especially the completion of the Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha and 2.8 megawatt solar

    power plant at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu, Alike Ikwo, in Ebonyi State.

    “As we thank you Mr. President, we are constrained to ask for your kind intervention in the observations we have made to the Federal Ministries of Transport (Aviation sector) and Works on the closure of the airport for the renovation works.

    “Your Excellency, in our letters to the respective ministries, we observed that the notification of the closure was prompt giving us no time to make adequate arrangement for the security and convenience of our people and visitors to the Southeast who will be travelling long instances to alternative airports where flights will be diverted to.

    “We request that the closure of the airport be deferred to the end of October, 2019 to enable adequate arrangements to be made for security of the airport users and for few remedial works within seven (7) days to be carried out at the tarmac to ensure safety.”

    The governors also asked the President to approve their earlier resolution banning herdsmen without cattle and movement of cattle by foot in the zone.

    They said: “That Mr. President do approve the earlier resolution of the Southeast bovernors banning herdsmen without cattle and movement of cattle by foot in the zone to eliminate increasing cases of killing, maiming, raping of our women, kidnapping of our people and destruction of our farmlands mostly carried out by foreign herdsmen and in most cases with the backing of some compromised local herders.

    “We plead with Mr. President that we publish this letter to assuage our people’s feelings who erroneously think that no efforts are being made by the leaders of the Southeast to tackle insecurity and economic challenges facing the zone and to let them know that her leaders before now have been working very hard without making noise as issues of security must not be discussed in the public.”

  • FG may degrade Enugu airport – Minister

    The Federal Government says it may downgrade Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu from handling international operations because of its inability to expand the runway.

    Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure at the 6th Aviation Stakeholders Forum in Lagos on Friday.

    Sirika said that there were some developments around the airport that posed security and safety threat to flight operations, adding that effort was on to address the challenges.

    Read Also: EFCC intercepts $2.8m at Enugu Airport

    According to him, the state government decided to situate its free trade zone, market and radio mast too close to the runway which is against international safety standard.

    “We have some issues there and I have met the governor three times to discuss the issue.

    “As you approach Enugu, there is a market there, there is an abattoir and at the end of the runway, there is a free trade zone and as you know, Enugu is the Kaduna of the east.

    “A lot of passengers from the eastern part of the country travel through Enugu airport.

    The minister said that unless the market and the mast were removed, the government would have no option but to discontinue international flights into the airport.

    He said that the government was committed to ensuring that all ongoing projects across Nigerian airports were completed before the end of the year.

    He added that the government would also ensure that Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports obtained the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) certification.

    Sirika also disclosed that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari had completed 130 of the 157 projects it initiated in aviation sector within three years.

    He explained that agencies like the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had recorded a lot of progress during the period.

    According to him, the new terminal projects in Lagos and Kano will be completed before the end of the year, while the Lagos project would be delivered earlier.

    The minister explained that the airport was over stretched over the years because of the increasing number of passengers that traveled through the airport.

    “Lagos airport was initially designed and built for 200,000 people but now accommodates and processes 8 million passengers which is grossly inadequate.

    NAN

  • EFCC moves for interim forfeiture of Bankers Warehouse’s $2.8m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Enugu for the interim forfeiture of $2.8million seized last week .

    Acting Spokesperson of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade said the commission has  also filed  an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard on Dec. 27 by a vacation Judge  in Port Harcourt.

    The commission  on Thursday arrested two persons at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, carrying the money in two suitcases.

    The men were  Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel.

    According to the EFCC, the suspects, who said they work for a company called Bankers Warehouse,   confessed during interrogation that they had been in the business of moving cash for “some notable banks” for over six years.

    “At the time of filing this report, the alleged owner of the money, the bank had not made any physical presence in any of the commission’s offices, including the Enugu office, to establish their claim.”

    Orilade further said that efforts were being made to secure warrant for the detention of the suspects pending when they would be charged to court.

    He explained that the warrant was consequent upon the refusal of the bank or any of the relatives to come for the release of the suspects.

    Bankers Warehouse in a statement at the weekend claimed ownership of the money and asked the EFCC to apologise and return the money.

    The company which said it is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out Cash/Asset movement and Currency Processing said the men arrested were not involved in any money laundering and were carrying out a legitimate movement of cash.

    Read also: Bankers Warehouse urges EFCC to release detained $2.8m cash, employees

    “We hereby state emphatically that the movement of this currency was a legitimate exercise, being carried out on behalf of a legitimate Financial Institution,” the company said..

    “We emphasise that our employees are in no way criminals, carrying out any act of illegality as the EFCC has tried to portray. The young men whose character and reputation have been deliberately soiled by the EFCC operatives were conducting their legitimate duties as requested by a bank customer of our company.

    “We request for the swift and immediate release of our employees and our customer’s currency, both detained without proper cause.

    “We also demand an immediate retraction by the EFCC and an apology issued to our company and our employees whose images have been maligned”.

    In another development, the Nigerian Navy has handed over four persons and a vessel allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering to operatives of EFCC, Benin Zonal Office.

    The suspects, Promise Onate, Emonefe Stanley, Samson Obaje and Peresey Friday were onboard the vessel, MV Enterprise, when they were rounded up by men of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Delta on Dec. 4 at Nana Creek Escravos, Delta State.

    They were arrested on the suspicion that they were conveying Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO) without any valid approval.

    Captain Yilme, who represented the NNS Commander at the handing over in Warri, Delta State, said, “after forensic analysis of the product by officials of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the result revealed that the product onboard were poorly refined AGO”.

    While receiving the suspects and the vessel, Richard Ogberagha, an EFCC operative, said the commission would carry out further investigation and ensure that those found culpable were brought to book.(NAN)

  • EFCC intercepts $2.8m at Enugu Airport

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Office, has intercepted 2.8 million dollars from two persons suspected to be money launderers at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    EFCC Acting Spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade in a statement in Abuja, said the suspects were Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel.

    He said they were allegedly working for a company, ‘Bankers Warehouse’ and were nabbed based on intelligence report.

    “Upon their arrests, they were caught with consignments of two suitcases, containing $1.4 million each, totalling $2.8 million, at the departure lounge of the airport while about to board an Arik Air evening flight to Lagos.

    “During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the business of conveying cash for “some notable banks” for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra, when they were caught.

    “The suspects further confessed that they had so far carried out such assignments four times this year.

    “They are presently giving useful information to operatives of the commission, and will be charged to court soon.”

    Tthe commission had on Nov. 30, arrested Abbas Lakis, a Lebanese with 2 million dollars at Abuja Airport for money laundering.

    NAN

  • Ekweremadu: South-East Governors reject police report of burglary

    South East Governors Forum has rejected Tuesday’s police report that the security incident at the residence of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was a burglary and not assassination attempt.
    The governors expressed their view through the Director General of the forum, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya who addressed a press conference in Enugu on Wednesday.

    ‎The forum “calls on the Police and other security agencies to undertake thorough investigation and bring the culprits to book. We reject the hasty conclusion that the attack was a case of burglary, otherwise, the so called ‘’burglars’’ would not have insisted on the Deputy President’s son taking them to his father’s bedroom. The careful and methodical execution of the plot points to something more sinister than burglary.”

    The Forum while  condemning  “The attempted assassination of His Excellency Senator Ike Eweremadu, Ph.D, CFR, Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”  added that,  “His attempted assassination, no doubt, casts a dark shadow on the state of security of lives and property in Nigeria.”

    ‎”Apart from being a worthy son of Igboland, the Deputy Senate President has distinguished himself as a true Nigerian and a global citizen, having held the position of Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament for more than four years,” the forum stressed.
    ‎The governors also touched on the neglect of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the abandoned 2nd, Niger Bridge.

    Read Also: Ekweremadu’s home incident ‘is burglary’

    “We want to use this opportunity to once again call on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the South East and deal with the infrastructural decay at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
    We restate that the Airport is not safe as there are no runway lights, the tarmac is bumpy with potholes, while one of the buildings destroyed by storm for over two years has become an eyesore. The cargo section of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is not functional.
    It is, indeed, a shame that a whole region as economically robust South East does not have an airport that can land all categories of aircraft. The Federal Government should please come to our aid by making the airport more functional
    We are aware that the Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has taken up the challenge of helping to fix Akanu Ibiam International Airport, but we know also that the burden is too heavy for a State Government. That is why we are calling on the Federal Government to come to our aid.
    We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to take the issue of Second Niger Bridge seriously. The Niger Bridge is arguably the gateway to the Eastern part of this country with business hubs of Onitsha, Nnewi and Aba, amongst others. We note with concern that the second Niger Bridge has become a political chess Board in the hands of politicians seeking Igbo votes.
    We have become aware that it was only in July, 2018, that the contract for the second Niger Bridge project was signed. In spite of the fact that, the first foundation laying ceremony was undertaken in 2013. We pray that this will not be another lip service to realization of second Niger Bridge.
    We earnestly appeal to the Federal Government to assist the South East Region by ensuring that the second Niger Bridge is completed.”

  • NAFDAC seizes medical devices, expired drugs at Enugu airport

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized fake medical devices, cosmetics, expired drugs and empty labels worth N5.804 million at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    NAFDAC’s Airport Head, Mr John Okwori, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

    Read Also:NAFDAC seizes 3,300kg of banned frozen vegetables

    Okwori said that the seized fake products included unregistered and unlabeled blood glucose test strips unbranded from China to be possibly labelled in Nigeria and sold as imported original brand.

    He noted that other items confiscated were herbal skin doctor massage cream for stretch marks, which had no NAFDAC registration number and was equally imported from China.

    According to him, the agency also seized empty PVC cosmetic packaging containers for counterfeiting registered products and Benchmate PAR-BRO 60 powder in sachets all imported from China.

    “NAFDAC is hereby warning prospective importers of fake consignments to desist from patronising the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, as the unit is up and ready to deal appropriately with such violators.

    “Just as the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has directed that serious action be taken against such imports and violators henceforth,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Senate probes Enugu Airport runway contract

    The deplorable condition of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu came under the scrutiny of the Senate Thursday.

    The upper chamber mandated its committee on Aviation to investigate the design and repair of the runway of the airport.

    This followed the presentation and adoption of a motion entitled “Need for emergency reconstruction of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.”

    The sponsor of the motion, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who painted a gloomy picture about the airport, warned that the lives travellers who use the airport may not be guaranteed if nothing was done to fix the airport urgently.

    Read Also:Akanu Ibiam International Airport terminal ready soon

    Utazi said, “Informed that while aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Enugu, the pilot made a chilling announcement about the state of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International airport and enjoined passengers on board who can get the necessary authorities to listen to help in immediately setting about the resurfacing of the runway to forestall accident as the potholes and cracks pot marking the runway make take-off and landing a bumpy and frightening undertaking;

    “Observes that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu is the first Airport east of the Niger that was built even before Nigeria’s independence and was only upgraded to the status of International Airport on August 24, 2013, long after PortHarcourt Airport was;

    “Notes that the runway before it was upgraded was 2400 metres length and 45 metres width but after the upgrade, it was extended to 3000 metres length which can now take medium to large size aircraft;

    “Informed that a result of a technical appraisal shows that due to high water table of the airport, water percolates and gets trapped between upper asphalt and bottom concrete and this persistent retention of water weakens asphalt and creates potholes and cracks as a result of the weight of landing aircraft which are now heavier that the aircraft of the 60s and 70s

    “Informed that palliative works carried out in the last quarter of 2017 to Create water drains embedded in the asphalt surface end to end have not solved the problem as transition between new asphalt and old asphalt makes the surface rough and bumpy;

    “Further informed that the airport also lacks approach lights at two ends of the runway which has necessitated that the airport operates between 7am to 7pm and the nearness of the runway to Orie Emene market attracts birds which perch around refuse dumps and abattoirs in the market that are awfully dangerous to aircraft engines especially during takeoff and landing;

    “Considering that the SouthEast is the last, among all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, to have an international airport, the condition of the runway of the airport is disheartening and it would not only expose users of the airport to harm and avoidable accident, it would also discourage international airlines and interests from using the airport;

    “Notes that the upgrade of the airport to international status was a fulfillment of the dreams of the people of South-east of Nigeria who are famed entrepreneurs and have long clamoured for direct flights to parts of the world where they engage in myriad of commercial activities in order to cut costs associated with logistics and distance,”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in his contribution said that about three years ago, the airport was shut down for upgrade.

    Abaribe said that the chamber should investigate who handled the contract in order to establish who why the runway had to breakdown in less than three years of its reconstruction.

    He insisted that in as much as the Ministry of Aviation should urgently do something about the airport, it was necessary to find out what went wrong.

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah who gave the technical side of the motion, said that the technically the Enugu Airport is unsafe.”

    The Senate adopted the prayer to “urge the Federal Ministry of Transport and other relevant Authorities, to as a matter of emergency, resurface and reconstruct the Runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and also extend the length of the Runway.”

     

     

  • Deportee appeals for help to return family to Nigeria

    Deportee appeals for help to return family to Nigeria

    A Nigerian who was recently deported from India for having issues with his traveling documents, Mr Chukwudi Onu has called on Ebonyi state government and well meaning individuals to come to his Aide by assisting him to bring back his wife and three kids to Nigeria.

    Narrating his ordeal, Mr Onu who said he is from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State lamented that his wife and three kids are still stranded in India following his arrested and deportation in May this year.

    “I have been living in India for the past six years, I travelled with my family in December 2011 and on May 15th, I was arrested by Indian Immigration Police over expired visa, from there to deportation camp where I spent over a month before I was deported to Nigeria”, he said.

    Mr Onu explained that his family had been kicked out of their apartment over unpaid bills and could not go to deportation camp because of the harsh treatment being meted out to Nigerians.

    “My family are staying in an open church, even to raise money for their air tickets is an uphill task for me. I ve been reaching out to the government and Nigerian High Commission in India. Right now, I am appealing to Ebonyi State government because am from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area and well-meaning Nigerians to help me rescue my family”.

    The deportee said he was worried about the condition of his family as Indian weather presently is too cold noting that he was paying eight hundred dollars for their rent from Nigeria until he ran out of cash.

    He stated that air ticket for his wife and three kids from New Delhi India to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu would cost a total of four thousand dollars but would prefer tickets.

    “Each ticket from New Delhi to Enugu is about three hundred and twelve thousand multiplied by four is about One point two million Naira but I have been able to raise about two hundred thousand Naira by myself, am only appealing to Federal and Ebonyi State governments as well as well meaning Nigerians to assist. I don’t really need the cash, if tickets are bought from any travelling Agency, I will send it to them.

    “I run a restaurant in New Delhi, CJ African Restaurant as well as Medical Tourism Management Business to help those on medical trip with necessary logistics”.

    Mr Onu however blamed himself for his travail pointing out that he failed to renew his papers because he travelled with a medical visa which required that he returns to Nigeria before applying for a permanent visa.

    Mr Onu also called on the Federal government to widen the scope of its repatriation project to cover not only Nigerians stranded in Libya but also those held in deportation camps in Asian countries such as India and Malaysia.

    He explained that at least One thousand Five Hundred Nigerians were languishing in deportation camp in India.

    Mr Onu said Indian government had become hostile to Nigerians recently, alleging that even those with valid passports were most times arrested and hauled into deportation camp, only to be released after their papers must have been verified.

    He noted that so many Nigerians in the camp had been there for over one year without any hope of returning as they had not been able to raise money for their tickets.

    “Yes there were over one thousand five hundred Nigerians, because in my room I think we were about sixty something and they have over twenty one rooms, there are places for Pakistanis and Afghanistans, I think I saw one Polish and an Australian, but the population of Nigerians is twenty to one of other Nationals”. Ends

  • NDLEA seizes cocaine, cannabis-noodles to China

    …suspects blame exchange rate, recession

     

     

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu have foiled a plot by a suspected drug trafficker to use innocent passengers to smuggle cannabis concealed in noodles to China.

     

     

    A clearing and forwarding agent who ingested seventy-four (74) wraps of cocaine was also arrested while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to China.

     

    Both suspects have attributed their involvement in drug trafficking to high exchange rate and economic recession.

     

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah called on members of the public particularly passengers not to collect consignments from people.

     

     

    “This is a plot by suspected drug traffickers to use innocent passengers in smuggling drugs. Some persons may have fallen into this wicked plot if not for the timely intervention of the Agency.

     

     

    “It is instructive that people be aware of this trick because what they consider as an assistance may just send them to prison or early graves. This is because drug trafficking is punishable by death in China” Abdallah stated.

     

    Abdallah added that passengers must exercise caution in accepting bags from people.

     

     

    “To an average passenger, the suspected bag contained noodles but during search operations, the packs of noodles turned out to be cannabis. In the past, we have recovered drugs hidden inside books, parcels and even letters. It is important therefore that members of the public must act with utmost caution and avoid acts that could turn them into drug traffickers”.

     

    NDLEA commander at the Enugu airport, Adeofe Adeyemi gave the names of the suspects as Adibe Wisdom Baloba, 47, and Esonwunne Onyechi Benson, 31.

    “Adibe was caught during outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight to China. He was found to have ingested 74 wraps of substance that tested positive for cocaine with a weight of 1.417kgs.

     

     

    The second suspect Esonwunne was caught attempting to send a luggage containing cannabis to China through an unsuspecting passenger. The cannabis was carefully prepared inside packs of noodles to avoid detection. Investigating officers are working very hard on the cases and the suspects will soon be charged to court” Adeofe stated.

     

    Meanwhile, preliminary investigation revealed that Esonwunne was twice deported from China in 2008 and May 2016 on immigration related offences.

     

    Esonwunne Onyechi Benson during interrogation blamed his involvement on economic recession. “I am a trader but due to the economic downturn I decided to smuggle cannabis to China. I concealed the drug neatly in packs of noodles because cannabis is expensive there. I was waiting for a passenger that will assist me in sending the bag of cannabis to China when NDLEA officers arrested me” he stated.

     

    Adibe who is a father of five children said that he accepted five thousand dollars to smuggle cocaine to China. “I am a clearing and forwarding agent but financial hardship and bad economy forced me into drug trafficking. The exchange rate is very high and I hardly get money to take care of my family. My sponsor promised to pay me the sum of five thousand dollars to take the drug to China. In the process of boarding the aircraft, I was arrested by NDLEA officers” he stated.