Date Published: 09/24/09

Arik Airline to invest N30 billion in AK Inter. Airport

Arik Airline (Nig.) Limited is to invest N30 billion in the development of Akwa Ibom International Airport, Okobo that was heralded with the first flight yesterday.

The aircraft owned by Arik Airline with registration no. 5N MJO 737 800 series aboard the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba and other top government functionaries touched down the airport at about 2.12 p.m. amidst jubilation and celebration by the excited crowd.  

Senator Anietie Okon, a director in the Airline who dropped the hint at the inaugural landing of the aircraft at the airport, Okobo stated the company’s commitment to the development of the airport.

Okon commended Akpabio-led administration for being committed and undaunted to the completion of the airport despite initial constraints, noting that “In the airport is seated an aircraft that would ply the state and the Gulf of Guinea as well as serve as a catalyst of social and economic development”.

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio expressed satisfaction at the fulfillment of one of his campaign electioneering promises through the establishment of the airport aimed at the economic transformation of Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, “In 2007, during the governorship electioneering campaign, I made promises. One of the promises was to transform the economic condition of Akwa Ibom people. With this airport sited here, I have fulfilled the promise. And I promise to change your life and after my administration, your life cannot be the same”.

The Governor was full of praises to the different stakeholders - Minister of Aviation, Nigeria Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) - for their co-operation and support to the successful inaugural flight, adding “I thank them for being committed to the safety of the airspace”.

He declared “When we came on board, we declared that there would be no abandoned projects. When I took over the reins of governance, Dyncorps, the company that initially handled but later abandoned the construction of the airport told us that they stopped the work at 17 per cent level. For me, I am not interested in the percentages but in the fact that ‘Akwa Ibom could fly”.   

“Today, Akwa Ibom State is flying. We would not experience sufferings on the road again to another airport. Our airport is the largest in the Country and will remain the best when completed. Apart from the road construction linking the airport, it will attract industries and social amenities to enhance the economic life of Okobo and Akwa Ibom people as a whole”, Akpabio said.

Concerning the sister state, Cross River, he explained that the airport would accommodate cargoes to encourage the growth of Tinapa, the shopping centre in the interest of the South –South and the Gulf of Guinea.  

The Minister of Aviation, Omotoba congratulated the state government for redoubling effort to ensure landing, the first aircraft from Abuja at Akwa Ibom Airport, pledging the Federal Government’s support to completing the airport pa1rticularly Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) for the economic benefit of the people.

Omotoba lauded the great feat exhibited by the government to confront tough challenges of the airport in the interest of Akwa Ibom people, describing him as a visionary leader who should be emulated by other states of the federation.    

The Chairman of Akwa Ibom Airport Implementation Committee, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.) said though Dyncorps that handled the initial construction of the airport allegedly agreed to have completed 17 instead of 10 per cent, the present administration completed 100 per cent safety of the airport.

Nkanga hinted that the airport which has a 3.6 kilometre runway is to be expanded to 4.2 kilometres to make the largest in the Country and is in Category 2 like Ikeja International Airport with 60 meters wide reinforced shoulders.

He said the airport would serve as the hub of cargo in the Gulf of Guinea capable of attracting numerous industries and large volume passengers seeking flight to promote development not only to state but also to Nigeria.

“We would put together a sophisticated cargo to attract people to the area. It is a new generation airline, it has to partner with a new generation airport”, the chairman noted.