The government of Central Equatoria State has conducted a site visit to Juba International Airport (JIA) to assess flood-affected areas.
The visit was to inspect road sections in preparation for planned reconstruction and beautification efforts around the airport.
Leading the delegation on Saturday, Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, emphasized the state’s commitment to improving infrastructure in line with the capital’s development goals.
During the visit, the national Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijak Mijok, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating safer and more efficient transportation corridors.
“We are working in compliance with international aviation standards, and our goal is to transform Juba International Airport into a modern regional hub,” Mijak stated.
State Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, David Morbe, also highlighted the importance of orderly urban planning and the need for citizens to follow proper procedures when acquiring land.
“Opening roads is part of the town’s beautification and service delivery efforts. We must ensure that roads are clear and aligned with the city’s master plan,” he said.
He urged companies that have installed utility poles in unauthorized areas to relocate them and warned communities encroaching on public roads to prepare for official surveys and possible demolition.
“We are assigning teams on the ground to carry out assessments ahead of road openings and drainage development,” he added.
Morbe also noted that measures are being taken to prevent further flooding around the airport, including the creation of two water channels from Gabat and Nyaing.
Anderia John Kot Chol, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, pointed out that many road sections near the eastern part of the airport have been significantly narrowed due to illegal encroachments.
“Some roads that were originally 20 meters wide are now reduced to as little as 10 meters, with certain areas completely blocked,” he said.
“The government is committed to restoring and beautifying these spaces.” He added
He also cited poor drainage as a major challenge and called on the public to cooperate with government initiatives to reopen drainage channels.
Michael Lobuke Lotim, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Authority, stressed the urgency of improving infrastructure at the airport.
“Juba International Airport currently does not meet international requirements. While we have the space, much of it is misused, all water from Juba and Jebel ends up at the airport, so we’ve requested the state government to construct channels from Gabat and Nyaing to the Nile.”” he said.
Juba City Deputy Mayor for Infrastructure, Juma Mosese Michael, stated that the visit was aimed at evaluating the drainage issues that have led to repeated flooding at the airport.
“We are exploring alternative road access to the airport and tackling the persistent drainage problems, opening roads and improving drainage is our mandate.” he said
He also called on residents to practice responsible waste management, noting that improperly disposed waste contributes to blocked drains.
“We urge residents to manage their waste responsibly. We already have a house-to-house waste collection plan in place,” he concluded.