SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says there is no doubt that the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja, has brought hardship on Nigerians
The Abuja airport was shut on March 8 to allow for a six-week repair of its runway.
Addressing newsmen after inspecting facilities at the Kaduna international airport on Tuesday, Mohammed said the federal government had made efforts to cushion the hardship on Nigerians.
The minister travelled to Kaduna by train and returned to Abuja by road.
He said the transport arrangement put in place by providing free buses and train rides to and from Kaduna was a sign of government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.
Referring to the closure of the airport, Mohammed said, “No doubt, it has brought about hardship to people but as a government, we have tried to minimise the hardship.
“The government has put in place to the best of her ability arrangement that will ensure and guarantee safety.”
The Minister explained that there was no alternative other than closing down the airport because the runway needed “total reconstruction”.
Also speaking, the comptroller of Immigration at the airport, Felix Odika, said no hitches had been recorded in operations so far.
He stated that based on directive from the headquarters in Abuja, the service has been issuing visa on arrival, particularly to businessmen coming into the country .
