Members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation have expressed satisfaction with the quality of work going on at the International airport Umueri, Anambra State and commended Governor Willie Obiano for embarking on the project.
Tribune Online gathered that Governor Obiano had taken the NASS Committee members and other stakeholders on a facility tour around the airport over the weekend to see the progress of work been executed by the Anambra State
government.
Speaking after the tour, the chairman of the committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said they were impressed with the quality of work seen in the airport and described the project as a masterpiece that will elevate the status of both the citizenry and revenue of the state.
He said: “Aviation industry is a key social and economic development of any country. It is very important for the development of a nation. By my observation, this is one of the best airports. I have travelled to several countries and I am not in doubt. I have seen the infrastructure and a lot of other things going on.
“You(Governor Obiano) have not only helped to accelerate the economic development of the South-East but that of Anambra state and Nigeria in general. People in the South-East are highly endowed with development.”
He expressed worry that most airports in Nigeria are not viable, suggesting that for them to be viable, they should handle many passengers, adding that Lagos airport contributes about 65 per cent of revenue to the state.
According to Senator Adeyemi, whoever will succeed Governor Obiano has a lot of jobs to do, it is for him to ensure that the airport is viable. He should talk about the importation and servicing of goods. I was impressed some years ago when the governor talked about exporting food items from the state.
He added: “There is a need to have a supervisory company to look at what is been done in the airport so that by the time you vacate office, they will be able to see to the maintenance of the project.”
While commending Obiano for undertaking the project which he further described as a centre of investment, he reminded that the critical aspect of the airport is security.
Earlier in his address, Governor Obiano who described the airport as a landmark for Anambra State and the South-East assured that it will be opened in April this year.
He said the facilities including the arrival hall, terminal, the control tower, apron, car park and the departure hall are all ready for use.
While describing some of the facilities, he said the tower has a life span of 300 years, the car park has a capacity for 700 vehicles, the terminal is designed to accommodate 400 passengers at a time as well as space for 36 shops. There are security gadgets installed.
He said: “The runway is one of the longest in Africa and it is 100 per cent completed, you can land from either side of the runway…and it can carry any type of aircraft. It has a satellite lighting system.
“Because of the size of aircraft, we have a stone base platform, elevators, the steel is locally prepared and fabricated,” he said, stressing that the airport will be functional by April.”
He said that his administration did not borrow money from anywhere to build the airport, as he commended the NASS Committee members, government officials, APGA party members and other stakeholders who joined for the tour on the airport project.
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