FAAN to reopen Calabar Airport runway on Sept. 17

 
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said on Tuesday that it has concluded arrangements for the reopening of the runway of the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, on Sept. 17.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Richard Aisuebeogun, said that the runway was ready after four months of closure because of maintenance work.  

A statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr Akin Olukunle, quoted Aisuebeogun  as giving the assurance in Calabar, Cross River after inspecting the  runway in company of security officials.

He said that the managing director had directed the Director of Environmental Service of FAAN  to facilitate the  cleaning of the runway to ensure  it was free from foreign objects.

 
He said that the runway would be swept within the next 48 hours after which the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would be invited for final inspection and approval. 

``We have done all that is required technically on this runway to rehabilitate it to ensure safety of flight operations to this airport.

``Just like in Enugu Airport, what we have done in Calabar is complete rehabilitation. Since the construction of these airports, their runways have undergone minimal surface maintenance and in most cases ad hoc rehabilitation, '' Aisuebeogun was quoted as saying.

 
Aisuebeogun said that the reopening of the runway would assuage the transportation problems of the people of Cross River and boost tourism and other socio-economic activities in the state and the south-south at large.

 
He assured Nigerians of the authority's improved service delivery. (NAN)