Following the closure of the Akanu Ibiam international airport, Enugu, by the federal government, the Ebonyi State Government on Friday said it will provide free transport services with armed escort for its residents travelling to Owerri, Imo State, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that the state government also said that it will provide free hotel accommodation for such citizens in Owerri, the Imo capital.
The government, in a statement made available to Igbere TV on Thursday, however, called on her ‘citizens’ to minimise their traveling as much as possible, pending the completion of the renovation of the airport.
Igbere TV recalls that the federal government, through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, General Manager in charge of Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, had announced the closure of the runway at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to enable it effect major repairs on it.
The statement noted that the state governor, David Umahi, expressed concerns on the attendant challenges which the Enugu airport closure would pose for air travelers from the state and further provided some palliative measures for residents and visitors to the state.
The statement reads:
“Ebonyi State Government under the leadership of Governor David Nweze Umahi, has expressed great concern over the safety of Ebonyi citizens and visitors to the state following the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.
“Government also calls on her citizens to minimise the rate of traveling as much as possible within this period and being security conscious while traveling until all these palliative measures are put in place within two weeks from now.
“Following this closure and its attendant challenges on air travelers from Ebonyi State, the State Government is making the following palliative measures for her citizens as long as the renovation works last.
“Ebonyi State Government is offering a free transport services to her citizens with armed security personnel to aid movement of travelers from Ebonyi State to Owerri airport to and fro.
“Two Coaster buses with 10 security pick-ups have been purchased for that purpose while an affordable accommodation at Owerri has been put in place for the use of Ebonyi citizens while they wait for their flights or to be taken back from Owerri airport to Abakaliki.”
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