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The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned what it described as abrupt closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The group said that the timing for the closure of the airport was following the increase in air traffic to the Southeast region due to the Easter celebrations.
Ohanaeze while acknowledging the importance of safety measures said the timing for the airport closure could have been properly managed.
Recall that FAAN had announced that the Enugu Airport will be shut down to enable the Federal Government to rehabilitate the ruptured asphalt surface on the runway.
According to FAAN, the airport will be closed from April 22 to May 6, 2025.
However, Ezechi Chukwu, the spokesperson for the Ohanaeze in a statement said the action by FAAN was unfair and unpatriotic.
According to Chukwu, FAAN is aware that the regular users of the airport are usually Nigerians of Igbo extraction who travel in large numbers during the Easter season.
Ohanaeze further urged the FG to run an assessment of all the runways across the country to prevent such impromptu closures for rehabilitation.
The group also said that its leadership and members and the entire people of the Southeast look forward to the completion of the project in due time.
“This is the third time the runway has failed in less than 15 years. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and release funds to reconstruct the entire runway, rather than the makeshift efforts that have not worked over the years,” Chukwu said.
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