Aviation minister Hadi Sirika, on Thursday in Abuja, said the construction of a second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport would be completed by November 2023.

Mr Sirika disclosed this when he received the National Assembly joint committee (Senate and House of Representatives) on Aviation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for oversight function.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is ready to speedily finance the project from the mobilisation stage to the final stage.

Mr Sirika stated that the contract was meant for 12 months and that the maintenance would be for another 12 months.

“The work has commenced in harness, and it is our intention to deliver the project as soon as possible. It is practicable. Government is committed to this project and to fund it. We are here with the two committees of the National Assembly, the Senate and House Representatives, with their Chairmen on oversight and particularly on this spot,” the minister explained.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abiodun Olujimi, commended Mr Sirika for his efforts to start the project. She promised that the NASS would keep supporting the project toward completion as scheduled.

“Just as the minister said, we came on an oversight visit to the site of the second runway. It has been pending for a very long time. You remember, at a particular time, the airport had to be shut down because we had only one runway, and it was bad,” stated the senator. “So, it is the initiative of the minister to ensure that the second runway took effect.”

She added, “We are grateful that we are here, and we have seen that the contractors are mobilised. They are here, and they are working. The minister just said that the funding would be approved constantly.”

(NAN)