A section of Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State
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Following the gradual deterioration of airport runways in the country, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has commenced an intensive re-assessment of runways at the nation’s airports. They said the move is aimed at improving on the efficiency of the facilities, thereby forestalling potential accidents on the runways.
Lately, there have been reports of near incidents across the nation’s airports some of which include airplanes overshooting the runway among others. Spokeswoman for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said Although, the regular friction measurement for Port-Harcourt International Airport was conducted in March 2019 and the result falls within the minimum friction coefficient level, the facility witnessed a skidding incident recently.
She added, “It is therefore with the intention to increase the friction coefficient levels of our runways in accordance with NCAA advisory circular that the authority is embarking on this exercise across the nation’s airports as the rain is becoming very heavy and unpredictable.”
She further informed that as a short term measure to increase the safety of the Port Harcourt runway, the authority just carried out a de-rubberisation exercise between 15 to 22 June, 2019 to remove any contaminant, which were spotted on the runway.
