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As Ebonyi State edges closer to becoming a hub for air travel, the government has made a hefty investment in overhauling the runway at Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) green light for commercial operations eagerly anticipated.
The revelation came courtesy of Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Obichukwu, Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, who shared the update during her remarks at the ninth Airport Business Summit & Expo in Lagos, held yesterday.
Dr. Obichukwu highlighted that the airport’s 3.1-kilometer runway has undergone a complete resurfacing, boasting an impressive lifespan of over a century, a testament to the government’s commitment to durability and safety.
Dr. Obichukwu emphasized that the state government has intensified its efforts to ensure that all necessary requirements for the aerodrome’s operational readiness have been met, awaiting only the regulatory nod from authorities to commence commercial flights.
Dr. Obichukwu said part of huge investment on the facility consists of September 2023’s state government’s approval of a huge amount earmarked for the rehabilitation of the runway, which was awarded to an Infrastructure Development Company for a delivery date of eight months.
Read also: Senator Eze Launches N250m Medical Outreach For Ebonyi
She said: “Last year, when the airport was completed, the runway’s slippery nature caused issues with flights. Consequently, the governor intervened to upgrade the runway to meet the required standards; the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and NCAA guided the upgrade.
“On July 30th, the runway was completed to international standards, with concrete base and asphalt finish. The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport runway, marked and ready can now support three Boeing 747s landing simultaneously.
“Flight operations are expected to commence as soon as the NCAA team concludes inspections and grants the necessary approvals.”
Fortune Idu, the mastermind behind the Airport Business Summit, shed light on the forum’s genesis, explaining that it was crafted as a vibrant ecosystem where indigenous stakeholders can coalesce, share trailblazing insights, and unearth pioneering approaches to unlock airport investment potential, amplify performance, and seamlessly connect the skies.
