Abuja runway can be fixed without closure – Expert

An architect, with bias in Aviation infrastructure has said it is practically possible to construct the Abuja Airport runway without shutting down the airport to traffic as this has been done in many places around the world.

Mr. Tunde Oyekola, architect, and World Advisory Board member of the Airports Council International said building a runway with fight operations still happening is a no brainer thus; it’s absurd to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to traffic just to fix the runway.

Mr. Oyekola, who is the CEO El-Mansur Atelier Group, a consultancy firm in the Construction Industry, that built the Dutse Airport, Katisna state said, “nobody closes a runway completely for repairs adding that most airports fix their runway in segments.

He said it is possible to fix the 3.6km Abuja runway in segments and keep the runway functional until the work is completely done.”

Mr. Oyekola also explained that, “if it’s impractical to segment the runway in such a way as to receive a particular critical aircraft, then the runway should be extended to 4.5km and the threshold displaced to allow for segmental repair work while accommodating the critical aircraft in question.”

He said whilst safety is critical, Nigeria can’t afford the huge economic impact as a result of the closure of the Abuja airport for runway repairs.