The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) says it has achieved 90 per cent completion on the ongoing repair of 18L/36R runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.how
The Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, made this known during a inspection tour of the repaired runway in Lagos on Thursday.
FAAN on July 7, closed the Muritala Muhammed Airport (MMA) runway for 90 days for installation of Air Field Lighting (AFL).
FAAN said it will also install the approach lights, runway lights, (threshold, centerline, edge lights) for runway 18L/ 36R so as to return to 24/7 operations.
Yadudu told newsmen that it intended to meet its 90 days deadline but would rather delay and do a thorough job instead.
The managing director explained that apart from the MMA, FAAN was upgrading virtually all the airports in the country that were under its purview.
“So far, I think we have done about 90 per cent and we are on schedule and remember we are very optimistic but if anything would make it be delayed, I would boldly make it delayed.
“I would rather have a good job concluded, safely. Aviation is not about quick fixes it is about long term fixes.
“For 12 years, this is not working but now you are getting it in a few hours, what is the problem.
“The bottom line is our target up to this moment but anything that will hinder and we are sure has to do with the safety, we will not hesitate that is our primary responsibility but so far there is none.
“And we are committed, this is my 10th visit and there are people here daily, monitoring and supervising the project,” he said.
Speaking om Taxiway Bravo, Yadudu said the project had been stalled due to inflation affecting procurement cost especially of bitumen.
He noted that the Taxiway Bravo had been about 95 per cent for the past five months, however it was issue that had to do with procurement because suddenly we have inflation and the contractor is complaining but he is working with FAAN and the Ministry to see we can find a solution to the problem.
He said: ”This inflation issue suddenly increased the cost of bitumen and asphalt and we are trying to resolve it quietly.
“So he also ends up doing a good job, we do not want him to do a bad job because he has concerns and we are addressing those concerns.”
“It would have been commissioned four five months ago but we need to do a good job that everyone would be proud of,” he said
