From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State government has suspended flight operations at the Chuba Okadigbo airport in the state.
Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, who announced this on Thursday, said the temporary suspension of flight operations was to complete the installation and hooking up of airfield lighting to the powerhouse at the runway of the airport.
She disclosed that the airport had recorded over seventy-five commercial and charter flight operations within the three months it commenced full operations before the suspension.
Obichukwu, who inspected the ongoing installation of airfield lighting at the runway, emphasised that the halt in flight operations will last for a few weeks.
She said the installation and hooking up of the airfield lighting to the powerhouse will boost flight operations at the airport and that aircraft will be landing and taking off both at night and in cloudy weather when completed.
She commended the unwavering support and commitment of Governor Francis Nwifuru in ensuring that all required modern technology is installed in the airport to meet international standards.
“We have completed the runway traffic lights. These runway traffic lights, if you have been to the airport, you will see, when you are landing either at night or when the weather is somewhat cloudy, guide the pilots to land or to take off.
“So, the whole thing is now completed for the 3.1-kilometre runway. Now, because we want to hook up to the electrical appliances, a powerhouse that will power the lights, we say aircraft should suspend for now until we complete the hookup. Because we can’t be hooking up when flights are coming down.
“We want to temporarily hold on to flight operations, to enable us to hook up properly to the power chambers. The suspension is very, very temporary. It may not last up to three weeks, and we resume our normal flights. And we appreciate the fact that we have had so many customers from Ogeb, Obubra, Itigidi, Boki, who pass through here.
“Okigwe and all the environs and other parts of Abia, they come here to board flights. And those of them that come from Lagos and Abuja, they have testified. Even the NCAA, they are equally testifying that we have done well in terms of passenger operations,” she said.
She announced the engagement of professional security operatives to patrol the runway and other areas at night to prevent intruders and criminals from invading the airport to steal equipment.
Obichukwu said the Ministry of Aviation and Transport Technology, through the efforts of the governor, Francis Nwifuru, has enhanced the security of lives and property at the airport and warned criminals to stay away from the airport or face the wrath of the law.
“Our dear governor, Francis Nwifuru, has engaged the services of professional security operatives: the military, police, other security outfits, and also the airport guards.
“The guards are retired military men engaged to ensure more security provision in the international airport, and these guards are doing marvellously well. Some of them are from Benue State, Kogi State, and Cross River State,” she said.
The commissioner also announced the establishment of a Jet A1 bowser, with a twelve-thousand-litre capacity for the refuelling of aircraft at the airport.
“We are happy to inform you that this particular project has been done and completed. It’s for refuelling aircraft, especially those that may have a shortage of fuel; they will quickly be refuelled here. This project will last for many years, but for now, we are having it for six months, and it’s renewable. It is constantly here, and the aviation oil is all here,” she said.
Ani Emmanuel, a director at Stern Energy, said: “This is a heavy-duty bowser with 12,000-litre capacity for aircraft fuelling. It is a necessary thing for the aircraft. We are on contract, and it is renewable,” he stated.
Also, Uchenna Christian, an expert in airfield light installation, said: “We have completed the installation of the runway traffic lights, and these are the control panels that will power the airfield lighting system. We call them constant current regulators. They are ready, and all we are doing is to tidy up and do all our connections and energise it.
“No runway in Nigeria, as of today, has this type of precision light indicator. You can see men on the ground working on the runway to connect the airfield lighting system, and as such, we can’t compromise safety, and that’s why flight operations are suspended temporarily, to enable us to complete and install these facilities. In just a few weeks, we will be done.”
