Nigeria’s woes worsened by Abuja airport runway potholes

Potholes scarring Abuja airport’s runway are set to add to the frustrations of Nigerians struggling through an economic crisis as repair work is expected to prevent flights from landing in the capital for at least 6 weeks. Nnamdi Azikiwe International — Nigeria’s second busiest after Lagos — is to close from March 8 as its sole runway is resurfaced. The asphalt has ruptured in at least 2 places — a reflection of the poor performance of successive govts, none of which took up the task of resurfacing the runway after its lifespan ended in 2002. After a rocky landing by one foreign airline last year, international carriers threatened to stop flying to the city until the repairs were made. But the timing of the airport’s closure is unfortunate for president Muhammadu Buhari, and the symbolism will not be lost on his growing number of detractors. <br/>