The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, wants the Enugu state government to remove all obstacles to safe flight operations before the airport gets a seal of certification for night operations.
These obstacles includes the market and the Methodist School, close to the runway.
Director General, NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman gave these conditions during a joint inspection tour of the airport with the Managing Director. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma.
Captain Usman said,” The runway is of standard in terms of safety, we came here by air , landed safely. Except for the runway quality which a lot can be done to improve on the quality. We need to do short term maintenance to ensure this is maintained to ensure a longer lifespan. The runway is safe Ethiopia comes at least three times in a week, they come and land, same runway. A Boeing 777-200 series has been coming so generally speaking the runway is safe, very safe. However, it lies with government policy to ensure that whatever is done is done in international standard and done properly to ensure we rehabilitate the runway.”
He said the airport runway was safe and of world class standard, adding that the equipment to ensure safe night operations have been procured.
Managing director of FAAN,Mr. Saleh Dunoma represented by the Director of Engineering, Salisu Daura said the installation of instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and air field lightning were germane and have been considered and a clear distance of 1 kilometre from the runway was required to carry out the installation of the lighting.
He also pointed out that there was a challenge with some structures blocking areas where projects would take place especially the market situated by the runway and that FAAN would need the collaboration of the Enugu State government to relocate the market for there to be space.
Concerning water supply, Mr.Daura said that if the state government clears the illegal structures, to make way FAAN would construct a dam and get water down to the terminal building because of international flights.
On the lounges at the airport, he said, they were doing a lot of upgrade and renovation.
A delegation from FAAN and the NCAA made its way to the Enugu Airport after the South Eastern Governors from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo a few days back decried the conditions at the airport describing it as deplorable.
The governors particularly called for the rehabilitation of the runway and the lighting system calling on government to address the situation.
