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Aviation professionals endorse closure of airport for runway repairs
*Want NCAA DG sacked for alleged incompetence
Aviation professionals under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) have thrown their weight behind the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for the six-week repair period.
ANAP Secretary General, Adulrazak Saidu who made the position known to journalists at the group’s Secretariat in Lagos said that the association is in total support of closure of Abuja Airport and use of Kaduna Airport as alternative airport in the interest of safety of the air travellers.
According to him, Kaduna is best alternative to Abuja airport as it has a longer runway than Minna Airport. With a longer runway and better access road to Abuja, Saidu noted that generally, Kaduna airport is far better than that of Minna Airport.
He advised stakeholders to desist from unnecessary politicking and face safety issues, stressing that ANAP is talking strictly on professional levels.
The union leader who insisted that Abuja airport repair is not negotiable expressed his surprise at the lack of input from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA on the issue of Abuja Airport repair.
His words, “I am surprised at the lack of input from the aviation regulatory body, the NCAA, saying it was “irresponsible for the NCAA to keep mute in the face of high level intrigues from people who want to truncate the repair of the facility that has posed danger to lives and property.”
“What is the job of the Director-General of NCAA? We are calling on the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to sack the DG, Capt. Muhtar Usman for his lack of competence and capacity to regulate the industry. The DG has remained silent on the issues. The silence of the regulator is suspect”
He therefore, emphasised that ANAP is disassociating itself from the three unions letter to President Mohammadu Buhari, kicking against the airport closure.
Saidu also lamented the hardship and damage international carriers are passing through, saying that they have been victims of damaged runway at the airports.
“International airlines are losing millions of dollars to replace their landing gears. An Air France aircraft is now parked in Abuja due to bad landing gear arising from poor runway. Another Lufthansa aircraft is also parked in Port Harcourt for the same issue”.
He said “I am also surprised unions can dabble into professional matter. The letter to the President has become political. We don’t need to wait for a crash to fix Abuja Airport runway. There is no parking space in the air and that is why we are emphasising safety. Safety and security are critical areas to consider”.
Also speaking on the Abuja airport repairs and possible closure of the runway, Secretary General of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) branch, Emeka Njoku said it is expedient that the authorities repair the airport.
Njoku advised the Sirika to first of all consult the former Managing Directors of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN before taking any decision whether to close the airport or not.
The ANAP scribe who lamented the sufferings of the people and the impending danger said that the minister would get good advice from such aviation professionals who incidentally are members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE.
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