Rural airstrips to get facelift

RURAL airstrips will be rehabilitated and upgraded next year, says Civil Aviation Minister Alfred Manasseh.
Manasseh said funding had been allocated in the 2018 Budget so that people in the rural areas could access government services and be connected to the rest of the nation.
“The country has 4000 rural airstrips but sadly many have been closed,” he said.
“We have 15 airstrips being rehabilitated and we also are looking at opening 79 more rural airstrips.”
He said some people lived in rugged terrains and mountains which was difficult and expensive to build roads to.
“(So) rural airstrips is an intervention to help our people,” he said.
Manasseh said the government would work with the Rural Airstrip Agency for the upgrading and rehabilitation programme.