NAN-H-120
Airport
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Kaduna, March 8, 2017 (NAN) Mr Mohammed Joji, Coordinating Chairman, Movement Committee for Abuja-Kaduna, says Kaduna International Airport with the present upgrading, will make it one of the best international airport in the country.
Joji, who is also the Managing Director of Skypower Express Airways, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna, at the commencement of six weeks operations at the airport from Wednesday.
He said a lot of energy and resources had been invested into infrastructure in the airport to bring it to suitable level for international flights.
The chairman also said that Kaduna State Government had concluded negotiation with Saudi Arabian Government to enable its airlines commence operation on Kaduna route.
He explained that the arrangement was to enable them fly Jeddah direct from Kaduna, especially for those performing pilgrimage to Mecca from the state.
He said that 95 per cent of the work at the airport has been done, but not 100 per cent at the moment, “we are trying and we have done a lot of work within a week.’’
“We are already experiencing passenger movement. I am glad to say that Kaduna is going to be one of the best international airports in the country, from here, you can go to Europe and anywhere you want.
“Now, we have negotiated with the Saudi Arabian airline. The Saudi Arabian airline promised to use this airport during the six weeks closure, so we are expecting them,’’ he said.
Joji said that the airport was designed to have about 14,300 passengers from eight foreign and eight domestic airlines, expected to operate at Kaduna within the period.
He added that the total movement of all the airlines was expected to have about 207 flights coming to Kaduna in the long run.
“So, we have made provision for 14,300 passengers and 207 flights minimum for the six weeks period. It is 605,000 passengers and in fact, the exact figure for daily passengers is 14, 520.
“The reason Abuja runway is closed is because the first and second layer is gone and there is no way they are going to resurface it again.
“What we told them is that, as they are repairing the first runway, they should make provision for second runway.
“They should try to work them together so that in future, we don’t have such problem,’’he said. (NAN)
OYS/JIE/AFA
Editing by Julius Enehikhuere/Felix Ajide