Fidelia Okafor.

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday said rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s runway would be
delivered within six weeks.

Amaechi, in a statement in Abuja, acknowledged the pains, which the closure of the Airport would cause the economy.

He stated that the  Government would ensure the reopening in six weeks as proposed.

“The Abuja Airport runway was built to last for 20 years but we have been using it for 34 years.

“It has become extremely dangerous to continue using it, the way it is right now.

“We need to close it to rebuild it because the foundation is almost gone and what we are asking for is patience.

“If we don’t close it, we will be exposing people’s lives to danger and one of the constitutional responsibilities of the government is to protect lives and property.

“We believe that if we close it by March 8, we should be able to reopen it in six weeks because we know the closure is challenging for our economy,’’ the minister said.

He also said that the government was committed to developing maritime, particularly in the North Central of the country.

Amaechi added that the Baro River Port would be inaugurated by the first quarter of 2018.

He noted that the present administration met an abandoned maritime but that it (government) was in the process of awarding the contract for the last equipment for the port.

On the Lokoja port, the minister said he had directed the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to terminate that contract and gets a new contractor to complete the project.

“We have gotten that mandate from Mr President.

“Another mandate is the Central Railway Line, the Itakpe-Ajaokuta Railway Line; the contractors are back to site.

“Under this government, we have agreed with the contractors that we will complete it in the first quarter of 2018,’’ Amaechi said.