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The management of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa has stressed the need for the closure of the road that connects the airport and the neighbouring communities behind it.
Addressing news men in his office last Tuesday, the regional general manager (RGM) South South, South East, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and manager of Port Harcourt International Airport, Ojo Adedeji Afolabi expressed concern over the infiltration of the airport by non-airport users from the adjoining communities through the road.
The RGM noted that continued uncontrolled use of access road to the airport by the public traveling to Ipo and other communities behind the airport poses a threat to the smooth surveillance of the airport.
“We have been agitating that the access road to the airport needs to be closed for communities living after the airport. It is access road to the airport not the road to the communities,” he said adding that the airport authority has written to both the federal and state governments to look into the matter.
He disclosed that an alternative road that links the airport’s neighbouring communities to the Port Harcourt metropolis was earmarked and awarded by the previous administration of the state but has been abandoned.
The RGM therefore appealed to the Rivers State government to complete the abandoned road project known as School Road at Igwuruta-Ali as it would help curb unnecessary infiltration of the airport environment by non-airport users.
On the issue of street lighting at the airport, the RGM pointed out that the main reason FAAN has not embarked on the project was that the Chinese Civil Engineering Company (CCEC) handling the construction of the new international terminal at the airport is making moves to expand the access road, stressing that they would wait until the Chinese company is through before undertaking such project to avoid spending money twice.
He however pointed out that palliative measures (though not as expected of an international airport) are being taken to keep the airport environment lighted pending when the Chinese contractors would finish their work.
He also spoke on the expected delivery time of both the international and domestic terminals under construction, noting that the international terminal being handled by CCEC would hopefully be ready by December.
As for the domestic terminal being handled by Inter Bau Construction Company, the airport manager expressed regret that even after receiving marching orders from authorities such as the Vice president, Minister of Aviation and National Assembly committee on Aviation to expedite action and deliver on time, Inter Bau is still delaying adding that with what is on ground, they may not finish till around March next year.
He however urged the federal government to back the orders with enforcement as no individual or entity is above the government.
