‘Poor Runway Construction Reason For Perpetual Closure Of Enugu Airport Runway’

LAGOS – The poor runway construction of Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu is the major reason for the continuous closure of the airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), despite the N4.13 billion spent on its extension and rehabilitation barely five years ago. This was disclosed to Daily Independent Newspaper on Friday by a source close to the airport.

The contract for the rehabilitation and extension of the airport was awarded to PW Construction Company in 2019 by Sen. Hadi Sirika, the erstwhile Minister of Aviation. The company was awarded the contract at the sum of N4.



13 billion. It was reopened in 2020 for operations. Before then, Princess Stella Oduah, another past Minister of Aviation, as part of the $500 million loan secured from China, had carried out remodelling exercise at the airport, including its runway.

The airport was reopened in 2014. But, barely five years after the last runway exercise, a source close to the airport, told our correspondent that the water-log issue, which the airport was notorious for was yet to be resolved despite the involvement of PW Construction Company, which was originally founded in Ireland, but established operations in Nigeria in 1974. The source insisted that the construction company did a substandard job on it, thereby leading to issues with the runway.

The source expressed surprised that in spite of the huge amount of money spent on the rehabilitation of the runway, the challenge with the runway pavement had continued unabated. The source said: “Don’t forget that the entire Enugu airport is a waterlogged area. The problem has continued over the years.

Several aircraft had been damaged due to the problematic runway. Some portions of the pavement have been the major issue, while government has spent several billions of naira to resolve it. “Let us hope that whatever FAAN wants to do now will bring a lasting solution to the problem of the runway.

PW Construction Company has not proved to be on top of its game. It has been one problem or the other.” Air Peace had on Friday night announced the suspension of all scheduled flights to Enugu airport, citing safety concerns of the airport runway.

The airline diverted its Enugu bound flights to Asaba airport in Delta State. The airline in a statement by Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, its Spokesman, regretted that the situation of the airport’s runway had been causing major disruptions to its flights.

The statement added: “At Air Peace, we priotise safety first over convenience. We believe that if flights are not operated into the aerodrome for the next few days, it will allow FAAN the opportunity to perform the necessary repairs on the runway. “To this end, please be informed that a flights scheduled into and out of Enugu will now be operated into and out of Asaba airport.

We regret any convenience this change might have caused.” Imemdiately after the decision of Air Peace to quit services to the airport, FAAN in a statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the agency would be shut down for two weeks for emergency repairs.

Orah stated that this was due to a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway. According to her, the emergency repairs would be conducted on that portion of the runway from April 22nd to May 6th, 2025. The statement added: “In compliance with Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has, therefore, closed the runway during this period.

“As part of FAAN’s commitment to passenger safety and the modernisation of airport facilities, the runway will not be open for landings or takeoffs during the rehabilitation period.” The agency, therefore appealed to all airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation during this time, adding that all flights to this airport would be diverted to nearby airports. Besides, Ibom Air and United Nigeria Airlines flying the same route had announced suspension to the airport due to its temporary closure by FAAN.

Ibom Air said it was advised that Enugu airport would be temporarily closed from 23:00hrs on the 18th of April, until 27th April 2025, to allow for essential runway maintenance works. In this light, the airline said it had suspended all flights to and from the airport within the affected period. It promised that its Customer Contact Centre (CCC) would reach out to all passengers already booked on affected flights, adding that passengers may explore alternative travel options via its desks at Lagos, Abuja or Enugu airports.

“The safety of our passengers remains our top priority, and we look forward to resuming full operations in Enugu once the runway maintenance is completed,” the statement added..