The second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja will shortly begin construction, according to Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development.
As the minister discussed compensation and relocation for Abuja natives who were impacted by the proposed construction of a second runway for NAIA, he also met with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
On Saturday, the minister posted this information to his verified X page, which replaced his Twitter account.
The minister emphasized the importance of compensating and relocating the locals before construction on the site started.
Remember when the Federal Government donated 12,000 hectares of land in 2022 for the construction of a few aviation projects?
Further handed over to the China Civil Engineering building Corporation Nigeria Limited was the building site for the second runway of the Abuja airport.
The maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility, aviation leasing firm, agro-allied cargo terminals, aerotropolis or airport city, national carrier, Africa Aerospace and Aviation University, among other projects, would also be carried out on the property.
Keyamo stated that in order to address the issue of Emirates Airline flights to Dubai/UAE, he also spoke with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He continued by saying that both ministries are cooperating to find a solution to this issue as well as the associated worry about the resumed issuance of Dubai visas to Nigerians.
“Earlier today, I met with my counterparts in the Foreign Affairs and FCT Ministries to collaboratively settle issues facing our Ministries,” the statement adds.
The first is to jointly settle the issue of the FCT natives who must be compensated and moved before the development of the second runway at the Abuja airport can begin in earnest. This will be done in conjunction with the FCT Ministry. A mobilization of the contractors has taken place so they can arrive at the location.
The second is to cooperate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to find a solution to the problems relating to the restart of Emirates Airline flights to Dubai/UAE and the restart of Nigerians’ issuance of Dubai visas.
“These difficulties are currently moving forward for us.”