The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has announced the temporary closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State for emergency runway repairs, following the discovery of a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway.
According to a statement issued by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, the airport will be closed to flight operations from April 22 to May 6, 2025 to allow for urgent rehabilitation works in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
She emphasized that the decision was made in the interest of passenger safety and as part of FAAN’s ongoing efforts toward the modernization of airport infrastructure across the country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), further reinforced the urgency of the repairs, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the quality of prior rehabilitation work carried out at the airport.
In a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the minister disclosed that although the runway was reconstructed in 2019, the project failed to address persistent waterlogging issues, which have now led to severe cracks and crater-like potholes, posing a serious threat to aircraft and passengers.
He recalled a personal inspection visit to the airport, during which he was totally displeased with the quality of work executed by the contractor responsible for the 2019 rehabilitation.
The minister assured that repair efforts will be fast-tracked to meet the May 6 reopening deadline while apologizing to travelers for the inconvenience caused.
All flight operations scheduled for Enugu during the closure will be diverted to nearby airports, including Asaba, Owerri, and Port Harcourt.
