Barely one year to his handing over date, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, has vowed to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects, including the Repair, Maintenance and Overhaul (MRO) and the runway facilities at the Victor Attah International Airport on the outskirt of Uyo, the state capital.
According to Governor Emmanuel, while inspecting the projects, the facilities would be completed and inaugurated before the end of December 2022.
Emmanuel, who expressed satisfaction with the level of work executed by the contractors, noted that the MRO, which is at 84 per cent completion stage, has the capacity of carrying two 747 aircraft series, eight A-220, 300 series and all the CRJs, adding that the MRO, when fully operational, would facilitate the economic growth of the state.
“Honestly from what I have seen here, the contractors have exceeded my expectation, they are quite ahead of schedule. You can say it is at 84 per cent completion and the materials on ground can guarantee the expected delivery date.
“A lot of people don’t understand what we have put in place here. These are technical details that can facilitate certain aspects of economic growth in the state.
“The MRO can take two 747 aircraft series, eight of our A-220, 300 series and all the CRJs for now, all installations are near completion and you can imagine we are the newest bride for all the aircraft maintenance companies across the globe and we have received offers from aircraft maintenance companies, you can imagine the foreign exchange this will bring to the state,” Emmanuel said.
At the terminal building project, the governor observed that “the structural part of the project is near completion and the terminal will be the smartest in Africa”, adding that Ibom Air will commence its regional flight at completion of the project.
He pointed out that the project which is a total approach to aviation development, would attract other foreign airlines and assured that there would be ease of business transactions in the state.
Governor Emmanuel hinted that as part of the government’s efforts in aviation development, 100 youths would be trained in aeronautical engineering and other specialised fields beginning with the first batch of 40 youths, which would be handled by experts from Airbus Company.
“I want to assure Akwa Ibom people, this is what we call a total approach to aviation development and we want to take all at the same time, Airline, Airport Terminal Building, MRO, Runway and other aviation facilities.
“I hope you are aware that Airbus experts are on ground to train youths in Piloting and Aeronautical Engineering, they are on the first phase here in Nigeria while the second and the third phase would be done at Airbus in France.
“We will train more once we finish the first badge of 40. My target is to train 100 youths before I leave office,” he said.
The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the 3.6 kilometre taxi way, appreciated the quality and standard of the project executed by GITTO Construsioni Generali Nigeria.
The Project Director of Camosa Nigeria Limited handling the MRO project, while conducting the governor round the project, said that the facility had been on for about 13 months and was currently at 84 per cent completion.
At the International Terminal Building, the Project Manager, VKS Construction Limited, Mr Ziya Sungur clarified that the major structural works had been completed and is left with furnishing with the required fittings for smart operations.
Also, the Project Manager of Gitto, Chief Ghanem Rasbeih, said that the “1.5 out of 3.6 kilometres of the new Taxi Way is 100 per cent completed, while the remaining was at 80 per cent completion”, assuring the governor that the three projects would be completed before the end of 2022.
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“Absolutely, When we came with the Buhari government in 2015 I became the minister. We were committed to a roadmap to establish a National Carrier, to concession the airports, to set up a leasing company, to establish cargo facilities and we have been doing that.”
On why the Buhari government wanted a national carrier, the minister responded: “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in Africa. 30.4 million square kilometres miles, 1.5 billion people, very green land. If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle. 200 million people and rising middle class, propensity to fly is high. Nigeria is a candidate for National Carrier.”
Sirika who insisted that the coming national carrier will be private sector driven added; “Private. Yes. 5 per cent government and no government stepping right in that company, no government control, no membership of government on board. Totally private and committed.
“Whatever we say we will do as a government since 2015, it has happened. that is why Tim Clark of Emirates, Qatar Airways and all of them are looking to go into Nigeria in multiple frequencies and multiple landing points because Nigeria is the right place for the airline business.
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