By Danlami Nmodu
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of the sum of N10billion Special Intervention Fund for immediate repairs and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) who disclosed this in a press release Thursday said added that this was the high point of the courtesy call on the President by a delegation of governors and leaders of the Southeast on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.
Newsdiaryonline reports that President Buhari had announced the intervention fund much earlier on when he tweeted on his handle @MBuhari: “I have approved the sum of 10 billion Naira for an Intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards.”
He added “Even as we have many items competing for our limited resources, we will continue to prioritize infrastructure investments in every part of the country. It is our responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is fixed; we will keep doing this.”
According to Adesina’s statement, the President said he was aware of the central nature of the airport, which was closed for repairs since August 24, to the socio-economic development of the Southeast.
The President also said he was aware of the infrastructure deficits all over the country occasioned by lack of judicious use of available resources in the past. He however declared that his administration is working on remedying this situation.
“We’re trying our best to make sure that infrastructure rehabilitation is carried out very quickly.
“I personally firmly believe that if we get infrastructure correct, the roads , rail, power, most Nigerians will mind their businesses, they would not even care who is in government. But when you deny them infrastructure, it will be difficult for them to compete and move across the country and regions.
He appealed to the governors to explain this position to their people.
“Please, have the courage to continue explain to your constituencies whenever they feel that there is laxity in government effort to rehabilitate infrastructure.
“We are doing our best within the resources available to the government. The Federal Government is working to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. The challenges are there. It is our responsibility to fix things, we are doing it and we will continue to do our best in this regard,” the President said.
In a presentation on behalf of the Governors and leaders of South East, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, while expressing gratitude over some of Mr President’s infrastructural development in the region, noted that the people of the South East were delighted with the speed and quality of work at the second Niger Bridge.
The governor also commended the President for other ongoing Federal projects in the region including Enyimba Industrial City, Aba.
On the condition of inter-state Federal roads in the region, the governor described them as deplorable, urging the President to ‘‘kindly declare a State-of-Emergency’’ on them and issue appropriate directives.
The leaders, who decried the challenging security situation in the region, had also appealed to President Buhari to approve special funding for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
I have approved the sum of 10 billion Naira for an Intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 17, 2019
Newsdiaryonline reports that the South East governors who spoke through Governor Umahi lauded the President’s intervention move while briefing the State House Press Corps after their meeting with Buhari.
