President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N10 billion Special Intervention Fund for immediate repairs and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
This was after South East Governors and some Igbo leaders urged the President to provide a special fund for the rehabilitation of the airport.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Spokesman in a statement, said this was the high point of the courtesy call on the President by a delegation of governors and leaders of the Southeast on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.
The President said he was aware of the central nature of the airport, which was closed for repairs since August 24, to the socio-economic development of the South-East.
Buhari said he was aware of the infrastructure deficits all over the country occasioned by lack of judicious use of available resources in the past.
However, according to him, his administration is working on remedying this situation.
He said: “We are trying our best to make sure that infrastructure rehabilitation is carried out very quickly. “I personally firmly believe that if we get infrastructure correct, the roads, rail, power, most Nigerians will mind their businesses, they will not even care who is in government.
“But when you deny them infrastructure, it will be difficult for them to compete and move across the country and regions.’’
He appealed to the governors to explain this position to their people.
“Please, have the courage to continue to explain to your constituencies whenever they feel that there is laxity in government effort to rehabilitate infrastructure.
“We are doing our best within the resources available to the government. The Federal Government is working to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. The challenges are there.
“It is our responsibility to fix things, we are doing it and we will continue to do our best in this regard,’’ the President said.
In a presentation on behalf of the Governors and leaders of South-East, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, while expressing gratitude over some of Buhari’s infrastructural development in the region, noted that the people of the South-East were delighted with the speed and quality of work at the second Niger Bridge.
The governor also commended the President for other ongoing Federal projects in the region including Enyimba Industrial City, Aba.
On the condition of inter-state Federal roads in the region, the governor described them as deplorable, urging the President to ‘‘kindly declare a State-of-Emergency’’ on them and issue appropriate directives.
The leaders decried the challenging security situation in the region. To them, the closure of the Enugu Airport has grounded activities in the region and causing great hardship on the people.
Those in attendance at the meeting with the president included Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Emeka Ihedioha of Imo as well as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader and Senator Sam Egwu.
Others were former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governors Martin Elechi, Ebonyi State, Okwesilieze Nwodo and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State as well as Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo.
Also at the meeting were Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Eric Acho Nwankwo, former Daily Times Managing Director, Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu, Ochiagha Regan Ufomba, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu and President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, among others.
Among those at the meeting from the Federal Government included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
