Group Lauds FG Over International Airport

A group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), has commended the Federal Government for upgrading the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu.

The commendation is contained in a two-page statement signed by Messrs Emeka Umeagbalasi and Justus Ijeoma, Intersociety’s Chairman and Head of Publicity Desk, respectively.

“Intersociety is happy to celebrate news of the launching of the first international flight at the upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport located in Enugu. The next step will be getting the Federal Government to make sure that foreign missions, particularly those of Europe, North America, India, China and other Asian countries, as well as the Gulf Co-operation Council, open their consulate offices in Enugu for visa-related issues,’’ it said.

The group said a demand should be made to the Enugu State government to provide a land space or rent facilities for the siting or location of such consulate offices.

“Extra efforts should be made to equip the airport and make it wear the look of a modern international airport, adorned with international aviation qualities,’’ it said.

Intersociety also said the Gov. Peter Obi-led south-east socio-economic thinkers should ensure the provision and maintenance at all times of access routes to the airport.

“To this extent, the Onitsha-Enugu and Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageways, which are now death-traps, should be reconstructed immediately. “For immediate and effective utilisation of the international airport, the five states of the south-east should jointly fund the reconstruction of the two important roads and seek for a refund from the federal government later,’’ it said.

The group advised that the service of an internationally-rated airport maintenance firm be secured for a round-the-clock maintenance of the airport.

The Tide recalls that the Boeing 737-800 Ethiopian Airline aircraft marked ET-APL operated the first commercial flight at the airport when it hit the tarmac at 12.14 p.m on August 24.