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Tuesday, January 07, 2020 /3:36 PM / By FDC / Header Image Credit: The Nigerian Voice
The capital of Delta state in Nigeria is once again
ready to receive international flights after getting approval from the federal
government.
The Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, stated
that the airport had met government requirements and that the government wanted
no further delays in the commencement of flights.
Asaba is situated around 500 kilometers east of Lagos
and had an airport for a long time, but poor infrastructure drove many to
patronize the Benin City export instead.
The airport's official purpose is to connect Asaba
locals to the rest of Nigeria, but many consider it to be a vanity project
started by the previous governor.
As of 2013, Asaba Airport serviced an average of 6,880
passengers per month on 260 flights.
In 2015, however, the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority downgraded the airport's capacity over concerns of inadequate
infrastructure.
The lack of a perimeter fence, poor personnel training
and a rundown runway meant that larger aircraft like the 737 could no longer
safely use the airport.
The following year, work commenced on restoring the
runway to a decent condition.
The runway is 3.4 kilometers long, theoretically
capable of receiving a 747 aircraft.
It has been an eventful short life for Asaba
International Airport, but Africa is in dire need of good aviation
infrastructure.
Issues with funding, governance, and management have
held Asaba back.
If these issues can be sorted, Asaba International has
a fair chance of developing into a decent airport.
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