- Says airport has longest runway with all time, all weather satellite landing system in Nigeria
Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, told the joint Committee of the National Assembly on Aviation that the Anambra Cargo Airport, Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the State will be ready for use next month.
Governor Obiano told the joint committee during their inspection of the airport project on Saturday that his administration was determined to deliver the airport project in view of its enormous economic importance to the State and South East zone and Nigeria at large.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of work at the site since January 2020 when the project started, assuring that by the end of April, air operations would have commenced at the airport fully.
He described the airport as one with the longest runway in Nigeria, with satellite landing system to aid aircraft landing at any time of the day and in all weather.
According to the Governor, “one other important thing is that this is the only airport in Nigeria that has a satellite landing system. You can confirm that from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
“We did that deliberately because this is going to be one of the busiest in Africa because of the orientation of our people who are business people and travelers.”
On the technical details of the airport project, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor said the airport have two runways with 100 per cent erosion control which would prevent flooding during rain.
Ifejofor said it was a hightech project with good local content, adding that it was being executed by competent company under supervision of some of the best consultants in the aviation sector.
“This runway has 06 and 024. It has a length of 3.7 kilometre. The width is 60 metres, 45 metres carriageway and 15 metres shoulders. And the category is 4F, meaning it can take any Airbus,
“The orientation is that you can land on two sides. You can land on 06 or 024. It has category two light and satellite landing system, one kilometer racer to take care of overrun. We have four grids on either side or a diversion channel to Oyi River.”
In his remark, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Chairman of Senate Committee on Aviation said the airport project was viable and could compete favourably with Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
He said the National Assembly joint committee on aviation would go back and think about how the Federal Government could assist in the project.
“Aviation is key to social economic development for any political entity. We have heard about this airport and decided to come and see for ourselves.
“Most airports in Nigeria are not viable but they are essential. Lagos airport contributes about 65 per cent to our aviation but I can say that next to Lagos is where we are standing,” he said.
