The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika, says the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, will be shut for six weeks in February and March 2017 for aggregate repairs on the runway.
Sirika told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that the conclusion was to permit Julius Berger do add up to re-development on the severely harmed air terminal runway.
He said that while the runway would in any case be put to use under the six months of restoration, the six weeks would permit the midriff of the runway to be reproduced.
As indicated by him, President Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed the remaking through the crisis acquisition strategy for work to begin. This, as indicated by him, is a direct result of the centrality, economy and the significance of Abuja to the general organization of the nation.
He said government couldn't bear to shut down Abuja airplane terminal for quite a while as palliative repairs had been continuous at the runway in the most recent three months. "From beginning to end of the runway, it will take six months.
In any case, we will utilize the runway practically all through the period aside from around six weeks when the runway will be shut.
"That is the point at which we will do the midriff of the runway. "The legislature has acknowledged the outline done by the contractual worker. The runway will keep going for than 10 years on fulfillment right on time one year from now'', he said.
Sirika said Abuja bound travelers from any part of the world will utilize Kaduna air terminal as option amid the six weeks conclusion to travelers. He said game plan had been concluded with Kaduna State, including that while the government will give transports to pass on the travelers to Abuja, the state government will give security.
As per him, it will cost government generous measure of cash "yet we feel that palliative approach isn't right since three years down we will return to do similar repairs.
"Thusly, we chose to go for the greater choice which is to do basic repairs if the runway which will take around six months to finish'', he said.
On the Bilateral Air Agreement with different nations, Sirika said government had marked BASA with 18 nations that Nigerians as often as possible visites and work with. The MOUs, he said, would give Nigeria the chance to work air administrations with 18 nations.
"With this, we have the flexibility to fly and land securely in other air space and this will help with opening our market.''