Aviation minister crowns disputed airport upgrade success with new funding from a satisfied donor
By: Yusuf M Hasan
KUWAIT (Somalilandsun) – Further upgrade works at Egal international airport in Hargeisa the capital of Somaliland are expected anon following the availability of necessary funds.
This development comes after the Somaliland aviation and air transport minister Mahmud Abdi Hashi signed a new agreement with the Kuwait Government worth $5m at a function held in Kuwait city last night.
According t
o sources the availed funds that bring total Kuwait contribution towards airport upgrades in the country to $15m shall be utilized to complete the remaining 1km of runway and install lighting system for night landings as well a security perimeter fence at the Egal international airport.
The Kuwaiti confirmation of satisfaction with upgrade works came on the 26th September during a public meeting held at the civil service institute where participants were given time to Query state officials among them minister of Aviation and planning minister Dr Saad Ali Shire as well as the person overseeing the donor’, Kuwait, interests Dr. Nabeel Abdurrahman and the consulting engineer for NARCO
Though the first phase of upgrade work at the airport has continued to elicit controversy the Kuwait donors who recently publicly confirmed satisfaction with the earlier funds were utilized seem to have obliterated the innuendoes of maladministration by the aviation minister thence the release of this substantial amount which is expected to complete all pending works.
With the donor’s approval that comes after heated debates upon the suspension of services by Ethiopian airlines it is expected that the ministry of aviation which is the body delegated by the administration to handle airport management and development shall be given a much needed breathing space to perform its duties.
While articles of the just signed additional funds are yet to be availed and in lieu of the new funds targeting the remaining upgrade works it is assumed that it follows they original one that provided the initial $10m signed on 3rd of March 2012, between the Republic of Somaliland represented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Air Transportation, and the donors government of Kuwait.
Read the terms of the funding contract HERE
