Expert faults FG’s Kaduna as alternative airport to Abuja

Olabode Adaramola

The Federal Government has been faulted over its decision to divert flights going to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, to Kaduna airport over the ongoing repair works being carried out at the Abuja airport,while describing it as a political maneuvering just like in the previous administrations.

An Aviation expert, Engineer Abdullahi Dauda Kutigi who is also a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state stated this in an interaction with the news men in Minna, the state capital on Thursday.

Kutigi lamented that Kaduna has the highest insecurity problems in Nigeria considering its level of kidnapping, social- political and religious crisis, armed robbery, incessant road block and attacks on innocent passengers unlike Niger State adjudged as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

Ha said that Minna airport was specially constructed as an alternative to Abuja airport hence the initial and running cost of using Kaduna airport will be much more higher than that of Minna airport.

He added further that Minna airport is much closer to Abuja either by road or by helicopter shuttle and with much secured city and safe route in both accident and security and low traffic at the airport as well as comfort and inexpensive hotels.

Kutigi stated that the federal government was willing to expend huge funds and resources to mitigate the challenges of Kaduna airport while less of such money can be spent to put everything in order in Minna airport.

He however decried the inability of Niger state government to take some proactive measures in ensuring that the federal government was lobbied and convinced of making use of Minna International airport as an alternative airport to Abuja airport in the meantime pending the conclusion of the ongoing repairs on the run ways at Abuja airport embarked upon by the federal government.

He said  rather than using over N1 billion on Abuja- Kaduna dual carriage way, provide additional facilities at same airport, provide security patrol along its  road and provide free passengers  shuttle bus between Abuja and Kaduna road why can’t them use Minna airport as indicated  by the airline operators and stake holders who have shown concerns  on the issue.

Eng.Dauda Kutigi, also an entrepreneur of repite also argued that Minna airport has some of the following facilities like 3.6 km runway, one of the longest in Nigeria, apron size of 400m×120m, no cracks on the runway and apron, complete perimeter fence, apron flood lights and airlift lights in perfect condition, used for successful annual Hajj operations using B747 and B767 aircrafts as well as adequate office facilities can be provided quickly..

Kutigi however expressed regrets on how the erstwhile President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan  administration had allegedly  halted the dredging of River Niger to Baro port and Minna- Abuja rail project to link Lagos with Abuja for his perceived  selfish political gains, thereby making  the state government  to remain silence rather than taken action.