Nigeria's Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja may be shut over decaying infrastructure.
Mr. Sirika spoke today during a presentation of the vision and plan for the aviation sector to a group of stakeholders. During the presentation he lamented that the airport's runway remains a source of embarrassment stemming from its dilapidated state.
“The infrastructure at the airport is dilapidated, and I was tempted this morning to close down the airport and I probably will for sure," Mr. Sirika stated.
He also revealed that the government is considering to implement contingency plans for many of the country’s airports—and that they may roll out the plans for airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano first.
"Our plan is to put alongside this airport an entirely new airport with runways and then the old airport can be used for either domestics or regional operations. This would make us have two runways.
“We are focusing on safety and security. We cannot afford mistakes because it could endanger a lot of lives. Often, those who are not aviators are after seeing nice edifice, and they say it is the gateway to the country, and it creates a lot of impressions and all that, but we must ensure that we fly securely and safely.”
“We set up a committee to access the security situations, and I would tell you that the outcome of the committee is not a pleasant story to tell,” he said.
"Aside Port Harcourt, nearly all the perimeter fences are gone in most places, and they can easily be accessed, which would end up becoming a threat to the safety of the industry since anyone can easily walk into the airports."