PH Airport Remodelling Suffers Another Setback

Hopes that the remodeling of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, would be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2014, appears lost as work at the arrival building has been halted.
When The Tide Aviation Correspondent visited the project site Tuesday, the contracting firm Interbau Nigeria Limited had vacated site and removed its equipment
The Regional Manager, South-South, South East of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Ebele Okoye had in December last told newsmen that the Arrival Hall of the airport would be completed and put into use in January.
In the middle of January, when The Tide sought to know the cause of the delay, Mrs Okoye said the problem was basically that of logistics, stressing that “once the logistics are provided, the work would be completed in three months.”
When the new Departure Hall of the airport was put into use last December, The Tide sources hinted that the ministry wanted to score cheap political point, especially when Governor Chibuike Amaechi had alleged political differences as the cause of the slow pace of the project.
It was gathered that the former Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah directed that the Departure section which is yet to be completed be opened for business.
Passengers and airport users have been lamenting the absence of air conditioners in the building and the incessant power outages that affect smooth operations.
FAAN sources, hinted that the contractor is having issues with the Ministry of Aviation over non-release of funds, pointing out that variation which the contractor had presented to the ministry had not received  positive attention till the dropping of the minister.
An airport user, Mr Innocent Chineye noted that the Federal Government should have given priority to the Port Harcourt International Airport based on the strategic nature of Port Harcourt to the nation’s economy as the hub of oil and gas business in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the remodeling exercise at the airport started the same time with the other 10 airports that been completed and put into use.