The rehabilitation work on Juba International Airport Phase- 1, has started this morning.

The work includes extension of the runway and patrolling areas, and parking spaces inside and outside the airport.

The project the project will cost ten million US dollars.

The ceremony was attended by President Salva Kiir, ministers from the national government and Central Equatoria State government and some diplomats.

President Kiir urged the communities living near the airport to cooperate with the company that is working on the rehabilitation of the airport.

“I will also direct our various institutions that are directly linked to this job so that they cooperate with the Company. These institutions are the Juba City Mayor, Juba Commissioner, and communities which are involve in this work to cooperate with the company such that the work is finished on time. We will be happy to celebrate the finishing of the project in the shorted time passable”, said the president.

President Kiir said the rehabilitation work will bring Juba airport to an international standard.

‘‘Any independent country just like South Sudan is expected to have better facilties to the international standards especially the airport. This Juba Airport has taken our money really, since2005 and the people who did that are now the ones shouting outside, after squandered this money into their pockets. They are the ones who are accusing government of corruption. But that time they used to bring companies and they asked for 30% or 40% down payment. All this money disappeared with the people but at last now we got friendly country like China”, said President kiir.

President Salva Kiir said the company working on the rehabilitation needs to speed up the work so that they can finish in time.