Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu has warned that nothing should frustrate the reopening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for flight operations.
His warning was sequel to recent claims by the Eastern District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Osidipe Olusoji, that the Enugu State Government was frustrating Federal Government’s efforts to extend its standard gauge railway project to the South East by demolishing some NRC’s facilities.
Okechukwu who represents Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency of Enugu State cautioned the NRC against any conducts or utterances capable of frustrating flight resumption as scheduled saying it has its own economic consequences.
He said that the leaders of the region would be glad to play their parts to ensure its actualisation.
In a statement he personally signed, Hon Okechukwu commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Governors of the South East region for staying the course in pursuing the reconstruction and reopening the airport.
He said: “The opening of the airport should not be frustrated as it has economic consequences both for local and international businesses.
“It does appear that some of these things are orchestrated to ensure that the airport does not commence operations as planned. This surreptitious distraction, including the demolition of the airport’s fence, and claim of standard gauge for the railway is quite dramatic and surprising.
“For the first time, managers of the Eastern Rail corridor are talking. It is quite surprising that the Railway Corporation is doing any work to upgrade the Eastern Railway Corridor to a standard gauge without the knowledge of the host communities, including the host Governor of Enugu State and the South East Governors Forum.
“In any case, such an upgrade is very welcome and is actually what we have been advocating and the region is very ready to cooperate. We still continue to appeal to the Federal Government and the Railway Corporation to make Eastern Rail Line effective because of its consequential effect on the citizens, especially the people of South South, South East, North Central, and North East regions. It will also put to rest some of the restiveness in these areas.
“We are equally pleased that attention is being paid to the eastern ports in recent times, especially with the arrival of huge vessel at Onne Port. Our expectation is that the evacuation of goods and products from this port will require railway services as well.
“However, we expect full disclosures. The NRC should define its scope of work and deliverables.
“Besides, both FAAN and NRC belong to the Federal Government and are expected to be complementary in their nature of services”, the statement added.