A day after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) raised safety concerns in and around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the state government has commenced demolition of the Orie Emene market near the airport.
The exercise comes after the state executive council on Friday ordered the closure of the abattoir near the airport and the removal of all illegal structures encroaching on the airport land.
State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe, explained that the government had on October the 12th, 2018 approved funds for the relocation of the state broadcast mast on the approach of the runway to Okpatu Hill in Udi Local Government Area.
The Federal Government had also on Friday threatened to shut down the airport over poor positioning of the market and state broadcast mast, which it says is obstructing safe flight operations.
According to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the poor state of infrastructure at the airport, in addition to the siting of a free trade zone at the end of the runway, as well as an abattoir close to the airport, among other obstacles, necessitated the decision.
