Ebonyi State government on Thursday announced a temporary closure of the Chuba Okadigbo international Airport for the completion of airfield lightning installation on the runway.
The government also said it has recorded over seventy five commercial and chartered flights within three months the airport commenced full operations.
The Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, who disclosed this shortly after inspecting the ongoing installation of the airfield lighting at the runway, emphasized that the halt of flights is for a few weeks.
She stated that the installation of the airfield lighting, when energized, would boost flight operations at the airport and aircrafts will be landing and taking off both in the night and cloudy weather.
Obichukwu applauded the support and commitment of the governor, Francis Nwifuru, in ensuring that all required modern technology and equipment are installed in the airport, to enable it meet up with international best standards.
“We have completed the runway traffic lights. This runway traffic lights, if you have been to the airport, you will see, when you are landing either in the night or when the weather is somehow cloudy, it guards the pilots to land or to take off.
“So, the whole thing is now completed for the 3.1 kilometer runway. Now, because we want to hook up to the electrical appliances, a powerhouse that will power the lights. We now say aircraft should suspend flights for now until we complete the hookup. Because we can’t be hooking up when flights are coming down.
“We want to temporarily hold-on on flight lifting, to enable us to hook up properly to the power chambers. The suspension is very, very temporary. It may not last up to three weeks and we resume our normal flights. And we appreciate the fact that we have had so many customers from Ogeb, Obubra, Itigidi, Boki, who pass through here.
“Okigwe and all the environs and other parts of Abia, they come here to board flights. And those of them that come from Lagos and Abuja, they have testified. Even the NCAA, they are equally testifying that we have done well in terms of passenger lifting,” the commissioner said.
She equally announced the engagement of security operatives to patrol along the runway and other parts of the airport, to prevent intruders and criminals from invading the facility and vandalizing critical infrastructure.
Obichukwu added that the Ministry of Aviation and Transport Technology, through the efforts of the governor, Francis Nwifuru, has enhanced security of lives and property at the airport.
She warned criminals to stay away from the airport or face the wrath of the state government.
“Governor Francis Nwifuru has engaged the services of professional security operatives – the military, police, other security outfits and also the airport guards.
“The guards are retired military men engaged to ensure more security provision in the international airport and these guards are doing marvelously well. Some of them are from Benue State, Kogi State and Cross River State.”
The commissioner also announced the establishment of jet A1 bowser, with 12,000 capacity, for the refilling of aircrafts at the Chuba Okadigbo international Airport.
“We are happy to inform you that this particular project has been done and completed. It’s for refilling aircrafts, especially those that may have shortage of fuel, they will quickly be refilled here. This project will last for many years but for now, we are having it for six months and it’s renewable. It is constantly here and the aviation oil are all here,” she stressed.
