Several  months after a rainstorm destroyed a part of the terminal building of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on November 21st, 2016, the structure is still in a sorry state as at yesterday when Drum News online visited the airport.

Drum news online gathered from a top official of the airport who prefers anonymity that the Ministry of Aviation through Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN seems not to be in a hurry to effect repairs on the structure which by the day is deteriorating. According to him, the Airport Manager, Mr Mgbemena, had written series of reminders to the office of the Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunomah but nothing has come out of it. The source regretted that with the coming raining season users of the building would be exposed to the elements and this does not augur well for an international airport. The source further disclosed that the impact of the storm which pulled off a section of the building had affected the entire roof of the structure. The intensity of the wind shook the structure which is mainly a prefabrication, to its foundation. “A thorough work needs to be done on it” He wondered the quality of work done on it expressing regrets that “somebody signed off on the work that it is good prior to the commissioning of the airport”.

A passenger who arrived Enugu aboard Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa was seen starring at the gaping structure in awe. He ‘was further seen asking a partner and pointing at the damaged portion. “The sight of the bad portion is a source of embarrassment to Nigerians”, the airport staff lamented. He asked: ‘Is it because it is here that it has been left like this, getting to one year now?”

It is not clear when action will be taken on the terminal building but it remains a sorry sight and a sore patch on the country’s image.