Fresh condemnation has trailed the sudden closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced an emergency shutdown to repair a significant rupture in the runway’s asphalt surface.
In a statement released by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the critical section of the runway will undergo urgent resurfacing from April 22 to May 6, 2025. All flights originally destined for Enugu will be diverted to nearby airports, FAAN said, urging travelers to check with their airlines for updated schedules.
However, the abrupt timing of the closure—coming at the height of the Easter festive period—has drawn sharp criticism from the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide. In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the Council’s National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, decried what he termed an “unjust” decision, lamenting the lack of prior notice to airport users.
“To make the matter worse, it came during the festive period, as though Ndigbo, who are known to be regular travelers during this period, are the targets,” Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said. “Did the airport runway suddenly develop a fault? We are aware that airlines have been complaining about this, but the government waited till the Easter period to hastily shut down the airport, throwing our people into confusion.”
Mazi Nnabuike further recalled that the last major re-asphalting of the runway also coincided with the Easter season, accusing FAAN of a pattern of “cruel and degrading treatment” toward the Igbo community. “The cruel and degrading treatment of the affairs of Ndigbo in Nigeria should stop. We know for sure that this cannot happen in Lagos, Abuja or Kano airports. Why also Ndigbo?” he queried.
Beyond the timing, the Youth Council president challenged the clarity of remarks made by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo regarding plans to concession the airport. According to Mazi Nnabuike, the minister “merely painted words without saying anything concrete,” refusing to specify the proposed duration of any concession agreement.
“We want to hear—how many years are there in the pipeline for the concessioning? If it is not 80 years, how many years are they proposing?” he demanded. “We want to make it clear that we are not going to accept anything different from what shall be obtained from other airports.”
Mazi Nnabuike urged both FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation to ensure that the rehabilitation is completed by the stipulated May 6 deadline, and to provide comprehensive, transparent information on the future management and concession terms of Akanu Ibiam International Airport. In the meantime, passengers and cargo operators are advised to reroute through Port Harcourt, Abuja or Lagos until the Enugu runway is restored.
