ON Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of N10 billion for an intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The president made this known via his Twitter handle page on Thursday.

“I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards,” he said.

However, in a meeting with the president at the State House Council Chambers on Thursday, the South-East leaders including governors called for special Federal Government intervention for the speedy completion of the Enugu International airport and rehabilitation of federal roads in the region.

In a report by ChannelsTV, the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, asked that the president declared a state of emergency on roads in the South East.

Governors present at the meeting were Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Also present were senate minority leader representing South-East Caucus in National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe;  Senator Sam Egwu; former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governors -Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State; Okwesilieze of Enugu State; Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; Achike Udenwa of Imo State, and Ikedi Ohakim also of Imo.

On August 24, the federal government had indefinitely shut down the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu due to abnormalities in the airport which needed urgent repairs.

The airport was reportedly faced with issues such as bad runway and landing aids, the presence of a market nearby which attracted birds causing constant bird strikes on aircraft and the state radio mast wrongly placed, which was directly facing the runway.