The new terminal being constructed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja is 80 per cent complete, the National Assembly, as well as the contractor handling the project announced on Tuesday.
However, it was gathered that poor supply of water and electricity to the facility had delayed its inauguration, as the project’s contractor urged the Federal Government to improve on their supply.
The new terminal is one of the four being built with a $600m loan from the Chinese government and is being constructed by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company based on a contractual agreement with the Federal Government.
Members of the Joint Aviation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, who inspected the airport on Tuesday, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work at the new terminal and assured air travellers that the facility would be ready for use by next year.
Senator Adamu Aliero, who led the team, said, “The ministry is already aware of the power and water challenges and I think that they are doing something about it. Once they bring it to the notice of the legislature, we will do the needful and give them the necessary support, because we need this building to be put to use immediately after completion.
“So, there is no point having this building without water and electricity. It won’t function without water and electricity. The existing power and water supplies are not adequate enough for this building, so we need to expand them.”
He added, “The building will be completed and inaugurated before the end of next year. The building is 80 per cent completed, what is left to be done is just finishing. As I speak, the pieces of equipment are already on ground.
“The project manager also said that the control tower and fire station have to be relocated and that is why they are giving us till next year. If those things are relocated, maybe we will inaugurate it earlier than the end of next year.”
According to Aliero, the Abuja airport deserves a second runway, adding that the National Assembly had approved the budget for the facility.
The Project Manager for the new terminal, Kevin Lee, said the building would be completed before the end of February next year provided there was adequate supply of water and power.
He said, “I have told the National Assembly members that the water and power capacity needs of this project should be upgraded. There is also a need to relocate the control tower and power stations. To inaugurate this building, about 8MVA capacity power is needed and right now, the existing power cannot carry it. This is why we cannot test some of the things we have installed.
“The terminal building will be completed by the end of February 2018, but because there is no power, we can’t inaugurate it. All the equipment needed for finishing are on site, so if power and water are provided, the building will be inaugurated before the end of next year.”
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