The Federal Government has directed the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to resume construction of the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this while speaking in Lagos during the 67th anniversary celebration of Aero Contractors.
Keyamo said the project, which has been delayed for nearly two decades, is now expected to cost close to N400 billion, compared with the N45 billion estimate when the project was initially proposed.
“The President has also approved that CCECC goes back to Abuja and begins the rebuilding of the second runway. Why couldn’t we build the second runway all along? Don’t forget that this controversy (second runway) started during Obasanjo’s tenure. I remember vividly (I didn’t know I was going to come to the aviation sector, but I followed the debate) that the National Assembly at that time said because N45 billion was too much to do the second runway.
“So, the committee on aviation…, we could not raise N45 billion at that time to do the second runway. 15 years or nearly 20 years later, it’s now costing us nearly N400 billion. That is the danger in delaying the building of infrastructure because the prices will go up every day.”
Speaking on Aero Contractors’ 67-year journey, Keyamo described the airline as an example of resilience, noting that it had survived despite the high rate of airline failures in Nigeria and across Africa.
“This is the story of Aero Contractors. From 1969 to where we are today, Aero Contractors has survived to this point. In those years, we have witnessed the highest rate of mortality of airlines in Africa and Nigeria. But in the midst of all this, Aero Contractors survived in Nigeria.
“The last time I called for the report from the Nigeria Civil Authority, NCAA, we had 100 airlines that have gone under in Nigeria. That is how high the mortality rate has been. Many of them, including Okada, Chanchangi and Concord Airlines. Here we are today celebrating Aero Contractors. This is the pride of Nigeria. This is a story of the Nigerian spirit, and it is what we should all be celebrating as a country and nation.”
