Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has assured that the safety of passengers at the Kaduna airport are paramount and guaranteed to the federal government. This is just as he reiterated that the ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway was nearing its halfway mark.
Speaking at the interactive session with members of the Aviation Round Table (ART), a group of professionals within the aviation sector, Lai Mohammed attributed the meeting to the resolve of the government to keep the ART “and by extension all Nigerians, informed on all issues surrounding the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the temporary diversion of all Abuja flights to Kaduna International Airport.
“As you are all aware, the airport in Abuja was closed on March 8 to pave the way for the reconstruction of its sole runway, which has not been maintained as it should be in its over 30 years of existence.
Recall that a few days before the closure of the Abuja airport, the then Acting President, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osibajo, travelled to Kaduna to inspect the facilities at the airport and elsewhere. Also, we held a joint world press conference involving the Minister of
Transportation, Minister of Power, Works and Housing (who was represented), Minister of State for Aviation, my humble self and the Inspector-General of Police to avail Nigerians of all necessary information about the Abuja airport closure and the relocation to Kaduna.
“The Federal Government has done everything possible to ensure the comfort, safety and security of the travelling public during the six-week closure of the Abuja airport. Transportation from Abuja to Kaduna and vice versa is free for air passengers, security along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway is such that there is a presence of security agents at short intervals, the expressway itself has been rehabilitated to ensure a smooth ride and, I can tell you, having
travelled on that road at least twice since the relocation, that the ride is smooth, plus the safety and security of passengers at the Kaduna airport are paramount and guaranteed, as have been attested to by many.