Abuja airport closure unnecessary while runway repairs are on, argue Nigerian airlines

Jan 6, 2017: The government's decision to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for six weeks while repairs on its runway are underway did not go well with aviation stakeholders.

According to the chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, NoggieMeggison, while the association's members were supportive of any decision taken by the government, such closure was pointless. The government had announced March 8 as the date for the shut down of the airport to conduct repairs on its only runway.

Airline operators were of the view that repairs on the runway could be carried out at night between 6pm and 6am while regular flight operations could be carried out during the day.

Meggison pointed out that Gatwick airport in the UK, which has 10 times the volume of air traffic as compared to Abuja, and has only one runway, did not shut down during its runway repairs.

Meggison spoke at a stakeholder's forum in Abuja organised by the Minister of State, Aviation, HadiSirika.