The Ethiopian airline airbus when it landed in Abuja on Tuesday

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Ministries of Transport, Power, Works and Housing and the security agencies over the successful completion of work on the runway and re-opening of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Buhari gave the commendation in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Tuesday in Abuja, 24 hours ahead of the time limit.

The President also lauded the efforts of Kaduna State Government, the contractor, Julius Berger, and others, on the successful completion of the airport project, 24 hours ahead of the time limit.

Buhari said that he looked forward to such display of inter-agency cooperation and efficiency in the operation of the entire Federal Government machinery.

He also thanked Ethiopian Airlines for cooperating with the Nigerian Government during the period of the closure of Abuja airport, describing it as a good example of intra-African cooperation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that When the Abuja Airport was closed on March 8 for repairs on its runway and flight operations were diverted to Kaduna International Airport Ethiopian Airlines was the first to land its new Boeing 787 in Kaduna.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Tuesday also praised the Federal Government for the prompt rehabilitation and re-opening of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

The airport had on March 8 shut for six weeks to give way for the rehabilitation of the runway. Kaduna airport served as alternative during the period of the closure.

(NAN)