A spokesman for Dari Investment Limited, the contractor handling the new terminal building at Kaduna International Airport, says the project will be ready by the end of February.
The company’s Project Engineer, Mr wKazeem Keji, said this to newsmen during an inspection tour of the airport on Monday in Kaduna.
Keji said that the target of the contractor was to complete the project before the end of February, adding that the deadline for the completion was Feb. 28. He said 92 per cent of the work has been done.
He explained that the major component of the project had been completed, the fittings, lightnings and the ceiling would be fixed during the week.
“We are not looking at the March 8 date, our deadline for completion is February ending and we are going to finish it.Governor Nasir El-Rufai during an inspection of the terminal late January
“We have done the major part of the project, it is only the fittings that we are expecting to be delivered tomorrow after which the ceiling will be fixed,” he said.
The Airport Manager, Hajiya Amina Ozi-Salami, said the airport was ready for the expected traffic upsurge.
Ozi-Salami stated that the runway was in perfect condition, adding that the capacity of the airport had been enhanced to accommodate any type of aircraft.
She added the lightning of the runway would be completed during the week. Manpower needed for the operations during the six weeks period would also be beefed up.
According to her, the navigational, fire and safety equipment of the airport are being upgraded in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard.
“We are going to also boost the manpower by deploying staff from Abuja to Kaduna and we are bringing in 40 fire and safety staff and 57 security staff.
“The management has been making effort to stop villagers around the airport from trespassing and the state government has started working on the vandalised portion of the perimeter fencing.
“With the synergy among the security agencies, the issue of security has been taken care of,” she said.
Similarly, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi, Head, Fire and Safety, said that three fire tenders were functional, while others were being repaired.
He added that the authority would also provided additional ones to help them to attain “Category 9”.
According to him, we are expecting more support from Abuja with additional manpower.
Mr Jatau Nehemiah, Controller, Airport Control Tower, told newsmen that the communication equipment and other navigational aids were being deployed for effective operation during the period.
Nehemiah said that more equipment were also being installed, assuring that the available facilities are adequate to cater for all kinds of aircraft.
The Federal Government said it would shut Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for the repair of the failed portion of its runway from March 8.Flights to Abuja during the period would be diverted to Kaduna airport.