Lawmakers declare Kaduna airport “disaster waiting to happen” after personal experiences
The Kaduna airport which was initially vetoed by lawmakers to serve as an alternative to Abuja airport pending the completion of its runway, has been deemed unsafe by House of Representatives members.
The lawmakers have only come to realise how “unsafe” the airport is after about a month of naming it an alternative.
They changed their stance after their personal experiences flying into Kaduna, saying it looks like a “construction site”.
President Buhari flew in from London through the Kaduna airport few weeks ago after his vacation.
A lawmaker, Mr. Adeyinka Ajayi, moved a motion on Thursday that the aviation authorities should ensure Kaduna International Airport complied with operational and safety requirements.
Ajayi said safety standards are not being adhered to at the airport. “God forbid that an aircraft should drop from the skies due to our own errors,” he said.
Some lawmakers voiced their support for Ajayi, saying only one foreign airline agreed to operate in the airport.
Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila noted, “If the airlines (foreign) have chosen to lose money than fly into Kaduna, then there is a problem that we should be concerned about.”
Others say there was no need for unnecessary panic, that the complaints are based on propaganda.
“There have been sentiments expressed against this airport right from the beginning. That is what is still happening. Which of the airlines has made complaints that it has any problems at the airport?” another lawmaker, Mr. Mohammed Garba-Dhatti, said.
