A tale of 2 cities: As Kaduna airport drivers rejoice, those in Abuja brace up for tough times

Different strokes for different folks. While some have expressed displeasure with the decision to close Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for six weeks – starting from March 8 – others cannot wait for flights to be diverted to the Kaduna airport.

The federal government decided to close the airport in the nation’s capital in order to repair its runway.

In Kaduna, hotels, restaurants, business outlets, and operators of commercial vehicles are preparing to reap from this “bumper harvest”, but any need to state the fact that it is the exact opposite in the federal capital territory (FCT).

TheCable visited both airports and observed the level of preparations for the six unique weeks in the history of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

THIS IS OUR BUMPER HARVEST

“This will be our bumper harvest, we are anxiously looking forward to it. For a long time, business has been bad as only few flights come to Kaduna. Sometimes even if a flight arrives, only one or two people take taxi,” were the words of Yusuf Umar, vice-chairman of the airport taxi drivers association in Kaduna, during a chat with TheCable.

“We take turn to carry passengers, sometimes you will have to wait for over a week before you take your turn for a passenger. We charge N5,000 to the town. We can’t wait for this blessing to come our way.”

As of last week, work was still ongoing in the airport. Remodeling and expansion of the main terminal, which started five years ago, had reached 85 percent completion stage.

Kazeem Keji, the engineer supervising the project, told TheCable that the major construction work had been completed.

“We have completed every major construction work on the terminal; we have finished the fixing of tiles, as you can see, we have commenced the fixing of ceilings, air conditioners and other electrical fittings and by next week, we will commence the painting of the place,” he said.

“So far, 85 percent of the work has been done and by the end of this month everything will be completed and the place will be ready for use. As you can see, this terminal will be one of the best, if not the best in the country.”

RACE TO BEAT DEADLINE

Amina Salama, manager of the airport, spoke on the level of preparations for flight that would be diverted from the FCT.

She said everything was being done to ensure that the airport gets ready before the March 8 deadline.

“Contractors have been working around the corner to meet the deadline. There is no cause for alarm. Even if there will be a little delay in putting finishing touches to the new terminal, the Hajj terminal, which is equally of high standard, could be used,” she said.

“The main terminal is near completion. The tiling has been completed. The fixing of the ceiling, installation of air condition and other electrical fittings are in progress.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is also said to be upgrading its facilities.

PROVISION FOR SECURITY

A source at the airport revealed that there were plans to collaborate with the military to deploy personnel from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which is very close to the facility, to beef security.

The Kaduna state government has also commenced the expansion and erection of street lights along the airport road.

A diversion is being constructed just after the forestry, connecting to Rigasa area of the metropolis, to link up to Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Businesses are expected to record a boom, especially taxi drivers and shop owners operating within airport as well as hotels within the city.

One other challenge that users of the airport may face is the fact that the distance between the airport and the heart of the town where standard hotels are, is about 30 minutes. A traveller, who has had a long flight would need to endure such period, if not more, depending on the traffic situation, before he can get a standard place to relax.

UNHAPPY MOOD IN ABUJA

It was sunny when TheCable visited the Abuja airport. The tension in the atmosphere was obvious. The looks on the faces of the drivers and owners of small businesses could tell it all.

Even passengers were bracing up for the days to come.

Ozioma Igwe, a passenger, said the government should not have waited for the runway to be in a “very bad shape” before fixing it.

She said she might limit her travels because of the arrangement.

“They shouldn’t have waited this long before repairing the runway. We have individual concerns aside security issues like the distance to our locations in Abuja,” she told TheCable.

“We believe Kaduna airport is an alternative but they would have made another runway available. I may have to limit my travel.”

KIDNAPPERS ARE WAITING

Eze Nwachukwu, another passenger, said the closure of the airport would give an opportunity to kidnappers.

“They (kidnappers) will be waiting for this (closure) to get money. It appears like it is a very good business plan for them,” he said.

The passenger said though the closure would affect his business travels, he may not travel often just to stay safe.

“The whole crisis happening in Kaduna is a no no for me. They should have been building another runway – they would have made another arrangement for another runway.”

For Franca, who sells food and soft drinks at the airport, her own worry is how to survive during the six weeks when there will be no operation at Abuja airport.

“How will I survive in this era of recession? This is where I depend on for sustenance. I don’t agree that [Abuja] airport should have been closed down completely.”

Akin Sunday, a cab driver, said it would be difficult getting for him to get income.

“I wonder how I will survive, if you look around, you will see that we are many, getting passengers from the airport to take to town is not easy and when the airport is closed I don’t know what I will be doing,” Sunday said.

On her part, Osamagbe Ugbaide, a staff member of Medview airline, said an alternative runway would have been the best option instead of completely closing down the airport.

“They should have created an alternative runway when they knew they would close this one, we don’t plan well in this country that is the problem. No one will want to go to Kaduna because of the security situation there,” she said.

Ugbaide is not the only one thinking along that line. The idea of carrying out the repairs at night to enable the airport to be functional during the day, was made when Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, hosted members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) last month.

But the minister had rejected the idea, saying: “We cannot do it only at night. We don’t want to lose anybody. We are not repairing but rebuilding‎. If anything happens, you will ask us to resign and we don’t want to resign.”

Ugbaide maintained that Medview would no choice but to use the Kaduna airport for foreign trips.

In January, when Babatunde Fashola, minister of works power and housing, appeared before the senate on the matter, he said it was a price that everyone had to pay.

He explained that Nigeria was not the first country to close down an airport for repairs.

He added that passengers may want to limit their travels and explore the use of Skype, emails, and other means of communication during the period the airport would be closed.

It is easier said than done, how to cope is the greatest challenge for those who eke out a living from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, but then in Kaduna, it is a season of harvests.