Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has applauded President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, for the approval of the rehabilitation of facilities at the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday approved N4 billion for the project. Ekweremadu, in a letter of appreciation to Yar’Adua, said the decision to upgrade facilities at the airport had sent clear signals to people of the South-east zone that he was committed to even development of all parts of the country.
A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to Ekweremadu on Media Affairs, Mr. Paul Odenyi, said the projects, when completed in 12 months, “will give effect to government’s decision last year to upgrade the Airport to international standard.
”Ekweremadu expressed gratitude to governors of the five South-east states, particularly the governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, for their interest in the project and for encouraging the Federal Government to intervene in the upgrading of the airport.
He said, “with the right disposition by our governors, especially Governor Sullivan Chime, it was easy for the legislators to sustain the request that has, today, resulted in a bouquet of projects that will ensure the internationalisation of the Akanu Ibiam Airport.”
The statement also quoted Ekweremadu to have thanked the South-east Caucus of the National Assembly for initiating the request in July 2007, and following it up to the President’s approval.
He lauded efforts of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Anyim Ude, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, saying, “they pushed us until we got there.”
