The ministry of aviation on Tuesday disclosed that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, will be closed as from March 8. The announcement means that the six-week closure, earlier slated to begin in February, will now commence later than initially scheduled.
The decision to suspend operations at the Abuja airport was taken after a number of airlines threatened to stop flying to the capital due to its damaged runway. The runway will now be repaired during the closure period. Aviation ministry spokesman James Odaudu said in a statement issued on Tuesday that a meeting would be held with industry figures to update them on measures being taken to ensure that the process goes on without hitches.
Among the things to be discussed at the meeting on Thursday will be the plan to move traffic from Abuja to the Kaduna airport, about 100 miles further north. Questions have been raised as to the feasibility of this measure, but the aviation ministry has expressed confidence that the plan would work.
No reason was given by the authorities for changing the date of the airport’s closure.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is Nigeria’s second busiest airport and is a key entry point to the country.
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