Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said the Federal Government will close the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja for six weeks between February and March 2017.

Sirika said this while addressing newsmen on Monday.

Sirika said the closure was to allow Julius Berger carry out total re-construction on the badly damaged airport runway.

He said the six weeks would allow the mid-section of the runway to be reconstructed.

“From start to finish of the runway, it will take six months. However, we will be using the runway almost throughout the period except for about six weeks when the runway will be closed,” he said.

“That is when we are going to do the mid-section of the runway.

“The government has accepted the design done by the contractor. The runway will last for than 10 years on completion early next year.”

Sirika said Abuja bound passengers from any part of the world will use Kaduna airport as alternative during the six-week closure to passengers.

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.