ALL has now been put in place by the incumbent Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisoebeogun, to ensure that the closed Port Harcourt Airport is re opened for flight operations come December 18.
This is in line with the promise made by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, that the Port Harcourt International Airport is set to re-open to the travelling public on or before December 18.
Confirming this in a statement issued at the weekend, the new FAAN helmsman said �I have just approved the release of more funds for the due completion of all civil works at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
�Two of my directors, Mr. J. C. Ezenwakwo, Director of Airport Operations, and Engineer Obi Anadu, Director of Airport Engineering Safety Services, have been on ground ensuring that all is done to meet the deadline given by the Honourable Minister of Transportation.�
It would be recalled that Mrs. Alison-Madueke had earlier made a public pronouncement that the Ministry would not tolerate the initial timeline of March 2008 that was initially set for the re- opening of the airport before her appointment. She had emphasised that her ministry would re-open the airport latest December 18.
Aisoebeogun further specified the remedial civil works that are being completed at the airport. He said, �The terminal building (toilets, ceilings, painting, etc) is already 70 per cent completed and by December 12 every major remedial works that are needed to restore the airport to full domestic flight operations would be ready 100 per cent. The Precision Approach Pathway Indicator, PAPI, has been fully installed and its cabling would be completed by December 12.
�The runway is 100 per cent completed. The two fire tenders (fire fighting machines) and hydrant (backup water supply) are now fully serviceable and these are quite critical to airport operations. Also the grass in and around the vicinity has been 85 per cent levelled to guarantee clear visibility.�