Abuja airport runway: Reps, contractor differ on deadline

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has expressed reservations over the speed of work on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway, but the engineers at the site say there is no cause for alarm.

At the site visit of the runway, Monday, the Rep members demanded that the completion deadline for the Abuja airport runway repairs be sacrosanct.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the contractor, is fixing the runway at N5.8 billion in a contract that will see it work for six months even after the runway is opened to traffic after six weeks of closure.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the work was already over 40 percent done.

The House Committee on Aviation members, led by the chairman, Hon. Onyejeocha Nkeiruka, gave their position after inspecting the extent of work done on the runway.

She said FAAN had assured them that the most difficult aspect of the job had been done and that the deadline won’t be extended.

“We wouldn’t want any extension and we demand a perfect job based on the agreement signed,” she said.

Speaking on the scope of the contract she said “They are to do the total resurfacing. We have our concerns but we will go through our books to know exactly what they were supposed to do” and be sure it is done according to specification, she noted.

Julius Berger Project manager, Dr. Lai’s Ritchter, also assured that the deadline would be met and that the cabling will start Wednesday.

Engr. Yemi Ayelesan, FAAN Chief Resident Engineer on the project said the entire runway surface had been milled and the very bad portions excavated.

He also said the runway is coming with new cables and asphalt fitted with fibre glide rubber to prevent it from cracking and it was water proof.