FCTA And Aviation Ministers Renew Agreement to complete 2nd Runway Project

The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello and his Aviation counterpart, Senator Hadi Sirika, have renewed their commitment to complete the 2nd Runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport before May 29th handover date.

The Ministers made this commitment during a visit to the project construction site in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

They urged the construction company in charge of the project to double its efforts and ensure its completion before the target date.

Describing the project as a legacy project whose scope went far beyond the runway alone, the Aviation Minister thanked the FCT Minister for the allocation of 12,000 hectares of land for the project.

Senator Sirika said the project was an aviation city containing everything a modern city has including hotels, shopping malls, schools, cinemas and hospitals; an Aerotropolis.

Designated as a Free Trade Zone, Senator Sirika said that the project would boost economic activities not just in the FCT but across the country, stressing that “the facilities will also include a cargo hub and serve as the hub for the national carrier.”

The Aviation City, he also said would serve as a base for the aviation leasing company.

Also speaking, the Project Consultant, R. Baba said that the 2nd runway was a 4.2-kilometre stretch and would contain all modern associated facilities, including a CAT III ILS landing aid that would enable aircraft land with minimal visibility as well as other facilities like a new control tower and fire station.

The Chief of Jiwa, Dr Musa Idris, who was also present during the site visit, said that the indigenous community would cooperate with the Administration for the construction of the 2nd runway project and the Aviation City.

He said that enumeration has been carried out on the land acquired for the project, save for 20 hectares and urged that compensation be paid to the communities.

The FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello pledged the administration’s total support for the project.

He said that the indigenous communities and people stood to benefit the most from the project as it would bring about huge economic activities and employment opportunities for the people.

While urging the contractor to work round the clock to ensure its completion on schedule, he said that all matters of the compensation would be handled by the FCT Administration as it has a robust resettlement and compensation Department with the requisite experience of over 40 years in such matters.

Bello said, “We have a standard procedure for compensation and never in the history of the FCT has issues of compensation stopped a project”.

He thereafter called on the Chief of Jiwa to continue to provide the needed leadership to ensure that the project is successful.

The Minister stressed that it was “a golden opportunity to be part and parcel of a legacy project that would transform the social, economic and political landscape of the FCT.

He further assured the people that the project would not be hindered in any form as all stakeholders including the traditional authorities were committed to its success.

Also present at the site visit were the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Dranuel Meribole, the FCT Commissioner of Police Abubakar Sadiq, the State Director of the DSS, Mr Ado Muazu, the SSA to FCT Minister on Security Amb. A.S Muhammed and other senior officials of the FCTA and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Mercy Chukwudiebere