BY Henry Umoru

Abuja—After 30 hours of facility maintenance at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which led to its closure, the runway has been re-opened.

The Coordinating General Manager, Aviation Parastatals, Mr Yakubu Dati, said in a statement released to Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, that the rehabilitation which started on July 5, 2014, was now opened for flight operations.
Dati said reports from pilots who had used the runway indicated that the rehabilitation of a section of the runway was professionally executed and would enhance safety of flight operations on the runway.

According to him, the second phase of the rehabilitation of the remaining section of the runway will, however, take place for another 30 hours next weekend, between Saturday 12, (2300 UTC) and Monday 14 (0500 UTC), 2014.
He said: “A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to this effect has already been sent to all aircraft pilots and other relevant stakeholders, informing them of the impending closure.

“The runway rehabilitation is being done in two phases to minimise the inconvenience the closure would have on air passengers and aircraft operators if it was carried out at once.”