Crash-landing looms for Nigeria’s aviation industry
Badly hurt by the recession and a dollar shortage that has led to a lack of fuel, Nigeria’s aviation industry must now contend with the planned closure of Abuja’s only airport for repairs to its runway that will take six weeks
Nigeria’s federal government says the only airport in the country’s capital, Abuja, will be shut for six weeks to allow for the reconstruction of its potholed runway. Minister of aviation Hadi Sirika says the facility will be closed to allow the midsection of the runway to be completely rebuilt. Flights will be diverted to Kaduna state, 210km by road from Abuja. The decision has sparked criticism from citizens who object to the closure in an age where modern engineering makes it possible for maintenance work to be done on runways while the airport is still in use. It has also highlighted the struggle that local and international airlines face in the midst of a tough local recession and a volatile currency situation. Investor confidence has all but drained away. Nigerian authorities say the entire structure of the runway has failed. It was designed to operate for 20 years, but it has been in use for 34 years, making it a safety risk. The Abuja airport, Nigeria’s second busiest after ...
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