UYO
The commissioner for special duties and Ibom Deep Seaport has assured that the Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is determined to fulfil the dreams of previous administrations in the aviation sector.
Comrade Ini Ememobong, who gave the assurance on Tuesday, March 11, during an inspection of the facilities at the Victor Attah International Airport, noted that the state government has a very audacious and ambitious plan of building an aviation sector with facilities that will remain world-class for a considerable number of years.
“Aviation is not a static sector, and so every year, new things are happening. But Akwa Ibom has the very audacious and ambitious disposition to build what should remain a world-class facility for at least a decade.
“The administration, under His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, is determined to fulfil the dreams of all the previous administrations who had invested in the aviation sector of the state,” he stated.
The special duties commissioner further reiterated Governor Eno’s commitment to ensuring that the investment of the State is not only comprehensive but is also able to pay back, adding that Akwa Ibom stands clearly out of the pack when looking at aviation development in Nigeria.
“In terms of the entire aviation ecosystem, when you look at the airport, it is not just a stand-alone airport. It has an MRO to it which is something you seldom have. We also have an airline that is running and we now have things supporting it like the Aviation Village and the rest.
“But what people see is the fact that planes are able to take-off and land. They do not know the other support services and infrastructure like the new international terminal which is required for the airport to meet the standard that we want. Clearly, this is a sector that continually evolves,” he added.
Ememobong, while commending all the construction companies working on the various parts of the airport, also assured that the Ministry has resident professionals in the airport tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the interest of the State is not compromised.
Speaking on the Maintenance, Repairs and Operations (MRO), the project manager, Kobus Marais, noted that the facility, which has a parking space for eight to nine Airbus A220, is the biggest in West Africa and a big money spinner, adding that it will create a lot of foreign exchange for the State.
On his part, the chairman of VKS Nigeria Construction Ltd, Engr. Oliver Ebong, while briefing the commissioner on the progress at the new terminal building, noted that most of the facilities required at the terminal have been installed, disclosing that the company was getting the terminal building ready for commencement of operations.
The project director, BestCrest, Dr. Donald Okeke, who led the commissioner and his team on a tour of the perimeter fencing at the airport, outlined various strategies that were essential to boost security at the airport.
The commissioner was accompanied by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Udosen Udoh; Head, Project Implementation and Coordination, Arc. Ekanwan Alale; Head, Geo-Tech Services and Quality Control, Mrs. Helen Daniel; and Head, Engineering Services, Engr. Mboutidem Essien.
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