Governors of the South-East states, on Sunday, asked the Federal Government to immediately repair dilapidated facilities at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The governors made the demand in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the South-East Governors Forum at the Enugu Government House.
Chairman of the forum, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, who read the communiqué, said the runway, runway lights and the tarmac at the airport were in a deplorable condition.
“The Forum appreciated the Federal Government for the intervention on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, but however drew its attention to the deplorable state of the runway, the runway lights and the tarmac and called on the Minister of State for Aviation to visit the airport for an on the spot assessment and urgent intervention,” the communiqué said.
Umahi further noted that the runway light, which was recently installed at the airport, was not effective.
“The runway light which was recently installed cannot show any light – that is not acceptable, we request an urgent intervention,” he said.
“The Forum also requested that urgent steps should be taken for the reactivation of the cargo section of the airport,” the communiqué added.
The governors, in the same vein, deliberated on plans to make the South-East a ‘medical tourist destination’ in Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, “The Forum received an interim report from the South-East Consultative Committee on Health, set up to facilitate the establishment of world-class health facilities in each state of the South-East Zone.
“The Forum noted the calibre of health and other professionals in the committee and commended them for the progress so far and urged them to work towards ensuring the transformation of the Zone into a medical tourist destination in Nigeria.”
The governors also decided that all development plans in the zone should be channelled through the South-East Governors Forum secretariat.
