….construction firm sets December 2018 deadline for project completion
The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that the new international terminal building at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja would require additional $400 million before its completion.
Giving this hint when updating journalists on the state of the project in Abuja today, the minister lamented that the project, which was initially scheduled for completion in December 2017, could not be completed due to lack of procurement.
Lamenting the slow space of work at the building site, Senator Sirika said the project estimated to cost N61.2 billion was being constructed by the Federal Government in partnership with the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC).
According to him, the non-availability of procurement disrupted the master plan of the new terminal project, assuring that despite the delay the Federal Government is committed to get the project delivered.
In his remarks, the project manager and contractor, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), Mr. Kelvin Lee, told newsmen that the work was 87 per cent percent complete.
Lee confirmed that the building would not be operational until an upgrade is done on the power and water facilities as the existing plants cannot serve the new terminal building effectively.
According to him, about 8MVA capacity power would be needed to power the facility as the existing power supply cannot provide required electricity for some of the things installed because of the low capacity of power.
“All these things need to be done, if power and water are provided, the building will be commissioned by the end of next year,” he assured.
