Work will start soon on the 2nd runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The assurance comes after Festus Keyamo SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, met with Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to discuss how to revive the construction of the 2nd Runway in the airport.
Their talk centred majorly on the compensation and relocation of indigenes who were affected by the planned construction of the runway.
The Minister disclosed also that, he met with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar on the possible restoration of direct flight services between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Keyamo stated these developments via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday
He added that, it was pertinent for the ministry to resolve the issue of the F.C.T indigenes who were displaced by the Federal Government after it had earlier secured 12, 000 hectares of land for the expansion of Abuja airport runway.
The ‘aerotropolis project’ has been planned to include a second runway for Abuja Airport, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, Aviation Leasing Company (ALC), agro-allied cargo terminals, a national carrier and Africa Aerospace and Aviation University (AAAU), among others.
Muhammad Bello, the ex Minister of F.C.T, had handed over the certificate of occupancy for the hectares of land in Abuja to the former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
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The construction site for the second runway for Abuja Airport was handed over to a contractor – China Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited (CCECC).
Keyamo in his handle said that it was necessary for the indigenes to be compensated and relocated before construction works began on the site after the acquisition of the hectares of land by the government.
He insisted that the contractors had been mobilized by the Federal Government to move to the site.
He added that: “The Indigenes need to be compensated and relocated before the construction of the second runway at the Abuja airport can commence in earnest. The contractors have been mobilised to move to the site.”
Keyamo also confirmed his meeting with Tuggar and said their discussion was on how to resolve the issue of the resumption of Emirates Airlines flights to Nigeria.
The two ministers also discussed the related issue of the resumption of the issuance of Dubai visas to Nigerians, which was suspended in 2022.
The Honourable Minister assured that the ministry was currently making progress on the visa issue and return of Emirates Airline to Nigeria.
