Remodelling works are ongoing at the Port Hacourt International Airport (PHIA) after the the contractors handling the project returned to site recently.
Contracts for the remodelling of the airport was awarded by Princess Stella Oduah, former Aviation Minister, as part of efforts to renovate the airport but was abandoned when she was removed from office over controversies surrounding the purchase of bullet proof cars.
Stakeholders are excited that the airport would soon wear a new look but the manager of the airport, Engr. Chigbo Nwobu, who confirmed the development, urged the contractors to step up the pace of work in order to complete the terminal and reduce passengers’ stress.
Nwobu explained that the airport remained one of the best in the country with an 11KVA dedicated power line to ensure steady supply of light to the terminal.
“The biggest challenge we had was power supply. By the grace of God, when I came, I had to meet Port Harcourt Power Company here and they graciously granted us 11KVA dedicated line at no cost to the organization. From then, we have been on steady power supply. Before, you can barely have power supply constantly on generator which is a secondary source. We have four on our line and it is a dedicated line. It is one of the greatest achievements that we have made here since inception”.
He dismissed the poor rating of the airport by an international organisation saying it was done out of ignorance adding that construction site will always attract discomforts.
According to Nwobu, security within and around the airport has improved especially on the runway adding that when work on the Close Circuit Television will be completed, PHIA will be in the lead.
He said all the fire tenders at the airport were in perfect condition.
“The fire tender is in perfect condition. Port Harcourt International Airport is one of the airports that all the tenders are working, including an old equipment vehicle that I met here, that was not working; that has been put in order. If you have a crash at the runway, that equipment can move it out and it has a generating set to back up the people fighting fire. It is equipment vehicle that goes with tender”
