…As FAAN completes checks on airfield lights
From Uche Usim, Abuja
From the closed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja came the cheery news yesterday that the runway 04 was ready for flight operations.
The Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika took to his tweeter handle to announce that all was set for the recommencement of flights into the airport that was closed for runway repairs on March 7.
His tweet follows the successful testing of the newly-installed runway lights on Friday night by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma.
The FAAN boss has redirected focus to the terminal building where works will continue even after the reopening but without disrupting flights.
Dunoma, at the weekend, also inspected the screening points, scanners, conveyor belts, toilets and other facilities.
The current state of facilities at NAIA shows that the April 19 reopening date remains sacrosanct.
Sirika had vowed to resign if the repairs exceeded the six-week window, a development that made him to visit the airport as many times as possible.
Already, airlines, transporters, caterers, civil servants, businessmen and other airport users are wildly excited about the reopening of the Abuja airport in four days time.
A foreign airline staff told Sunday Sun that his office had informed all Abuja station staff to prepare for operations on April 19.
Local and foreign airlines have also experienced a surge in booking for flights in and out of Abuja.
Ground handling companies are also warming up for the big return to NAIA.
Out of about over 20 international carriers that fly into Abuja, only Ethiopian Airlines flew into Kaduna Airport, which serves as the alternate terminal to Abuja.