Power failure at Abuja airport: Senate summons PHCN, Julius Berger, others

Senate yesterday summoned top managements of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Julius Berger Plc and Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over failure by British Airways to land and disembark passengers for over one and a half hours last Saturday. Also summoned is the management of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). The airport was in darkness for the duration after four of its power generating sets packed up after interruption from the PHCN. They are expected to appear before the Senate Aviation Committee to explain why the airport was thrown into darkness for several hours, necessitating the BA flight to hover around Abuja airspace for one and a half hours. Committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma told newsmen after a tour of the facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja that the blackout was the third incident in three months. He described the incident as unacceptable, adding that PHCN retrieved a dedicated line from the airport and gave it to the host community. On its part, Julius Berger is responsible for maintenance of the four generators at the airport. His words: “ What prompted the visit to the airport ] was that on Saturday morning, there was a blackout and for the British Airways flight that landed in the airport at that time, passengers were made to stay on board for over one and a half hours. “They were not able to disembark because of the blackout and this in our opinion, because this has happened three times in a row within three months, it provoked our interest, to see things for ourselves and to know what really happened, the causes and the possible ways of correcting and making sure that this ugly incident doesn’t repeat itself. “Now, we’ve been told that two dedicated lines for the airport so as to avoid interruptions. Secondly, the alternate option, which are the generating sets, procured and maintained by Julius Berger broke down at the same time; three of them broke down at the same time. “They’ve not been able to replace them...We will invite PHCN, FAAN and Julius Berger so that a permanent solution is made available so that we no longer get this embarrassing and threat to national security repeating itself anymore. “We are meeting with them on Tuesday. The interest here is for Nigerians whom we are here to protect their interest...” Uzodinma said.

Culled from :The Sun Newspaper