*Senate to invite the Ministers of Transportation, State Aviation, Works, Power & Housing & FCT…
Some Nigerian senators have condemned planned closure of the Abuja airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from March 6, 2017 to carry out repairs.
Speaking on the issue concerning the Abuja airport closure at the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday, some of the senators said they are worried about the consequences a 6-weeks outright closure of a major and the only airport in the Federal capital Territory (FCT) will have on the nation.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who frankly agreed that there is need to repair the runway however, disagreed with the idea of closure of the airport.
Ekweremadu further seconded a motion that many countries have repaired airports without closure and many lives have been lost on Kaduna road.
Senator representing Imo East Senatorial District, Senator Samuel Anyanwu cited that there was a case of repair on John F Kennedy Airport which did not stop people from travelling, while stressing that the senate should invite the aviation minister to find solution to the challenges at hand.
Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi West, said the closure of Abuja airport will embarrass Nigeria as a country, ‘it will affect us economically, politically and socially. Our Aviation intellectuals must think’.
Closure of Abuja airport: See more views from the senators…
The Ministers should be invited to meet with the Senate in few days”
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017
“This will embarrass us as a country,it will affect us economically,politically &socially our Aviation intellectuals must think”@dino_melaye
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017
“I will suggest that we should take the shutdown in piece meal, we can do repairs 36hours in a week or on Saturdays” – Sen Barnabas Gemade
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017
“There was a repair on John F Kennedy Airport & people still traveled,we should invite the Aviation Minister& find solutions -Sen. Anyanwu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017
Senate is determined to explore all other possible options that can avert the planned total closure of a strategic National port for 6weeks.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017
SP @bukolasaraki thanks the sponsors of the motion saying that it is not done in that manner anywhere & the interest of the country stands.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 10, 2017