Controversy trails Enugu runway masts obstruction

There has been controversy as to who gave approval for the erection of masts obstructing aircraft take-off and landing at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu which has constituted a threat to air safety.

An investigation by The Daily Times revealed that masts belonging to the Nigerian Television Authority and Enugu State Broadcasting Service erected at the runway 08 take-off end of the airport has been raising a lot of safety concern and no agency in the aviation sector has claimed responsibility for the approval for the erection of the masts.

The presence of these masts, The Daily Times gathered, has been given the authorities of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) sleepless nights as similar masts especially those belong to telecommunications companies across the country have been dismantled leaving the critical ones along with the take-off path.

A visit to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters revealed that they claimed ignorance of the presence of the masts posing threat to air safety.

But The Daily Times reliably gathered the regulatory body was aware of the two masts on runway 08 of the airport as the agency through a consultant in previous administration went round the country to identify all obstructing masts and structures that were erected on air routes.

A top management staff with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) who does not want his name in print said: “How would NCAA claim they don’t know about the presence of those obstructing masts on runway 08 of that airport? They should go back to their books. If you ask any pilot about the Enugu runway, they will tell you that after take-off, you either turn right or left because of the masts. You can never fly straight”.

Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also told this correspondent that several letters have written to the management of NCAA on the need to dismantle the masts as a result of safety concerns.

They called on the NCAA to have the political will and do the needful by dismantling the obstructing masts within and around the airport.