In a bid to revamp the aviation sector, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The revised sum of N10,33,078,000.98 was approved for the upgrade of the airport, to give it an international standard. It is expected to begin daylight operations in December. Other approvals for the ministry of aviation include the renovation and replacement of Air Traffic Control (ATC) consoles and Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios in 13 ATC Towers for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); and the award of contract for direct procurement of seven Airport Fire Crash Tenders for the airports. The contracts were approved during the weekly FEC meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, which lasted for about two hours, with a total of six memos approved. The Council had, in September 3, 2009, approved the contract for the upgrade of infrastructure at the Enugu airport and it has been closed to flight operations pending the completion of works. The approval is for the augmentation of project cost for the completion of the upgrading (extension/expansion and resurfacing of the runway including CAT II AFL) of the Enugu Airport. The minister of information and communication, Dora Akunyili, who briefed alongside the minister of aviation, Fidelia Njezeh, and the minister of women affairs, Josephine Anenih, said the initial cost of the contract was reduced due to inadequate budgetary provision and that the contractor (Messrs PW Nigeria Ltd) accepted to execute the project at the revised sum of N10 billion.
