The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the contractors for the construction of the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja are set to commence work soon.
This is as the minister met with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on compensation and relocation of Abuja indigenes who were affected by the planned construction of a second runway for NAIA.
The minister disclosed this information on his verified X page (formerly known as Twitter), on Saturday.
According to the minister, it was very necessary for the indigenes to be compensated and relocated before construction works began on the site.
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Recall that in 2022, the Federal Government provided 12,000 hectares of land for the development of some aviation projects.
The construction site for the Abuja airport’s second runway was further handed over to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited.
Other projects that would be executed on the land include the maintenance repair and overhaul centre, aviation leasing company, agro-allied cargo terminals, aerotropolis or airport city, national carrier, Africa Aerospace and Aviation University and others.
Keyamo noted that he also engaged with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to tackle the issue of Emirates Airline flights to Dubai/UAE, adding that both ministries are working together to resolve this matter as well as the related concern regarding the resumption of Dubai visa issuance to Nigerians.
The statement reads, “Earlier today, I met my counterparts in the FCT and Foreign Affairs Ministries to jointly resolve issues involving our Ministries.
“The first is to jointly work with the FCT Ministry to resolve the issue of the FCT indigenes who need to be compensated and relocated before the construction of the 2nd runway at the Abuja airport can commence in earnest. The contractors have been mobilised to move to the site.
“The second is to work with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to resolve the issue of the resumption of Emirates Airline flights to Dubai/UAE and the related issue of resumption of issuance of Dubai visas to Nigerians.
“We are presently making progress on these issues.”
