The Federal Government has suspended reconstruction work on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The airport was shut down on August 24, 2019, by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria over safety concerns following the collapse of the runway.
Reconstruction of the airport was subsequently awarded to PW Construction firm by the Federal Government. The airport was initially announced to be reopened before December 25, 2019, for Christmas, but due to a lack of funding, the completion and the reopening date was shifted to Easter 2020.
After inspecting the project on Tuesday, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said work on the airport would be suspended, citing the coronavirus pandemic as a reason.
Sirika said the project, which had gone beyond 90 per cent completion, would have been delivered before Easter.
The minister said, “But considering that the construction workers have downed tools owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government hereby officially announces the suspension of procurement.
“The work would have been completed in six-seven days, but the workers left to be with their families in view of the social distancing (rule)”.
He sought understanding, stressing that all the issues would be resolved in two to three weeks time.
