Governor of Imo State, Dist. Senator Hope Uzodimma has promised to assist the leadership of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on the standardization of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri to enhance economic activity.
Uzodimma gave the assurance on Saturday when he received in
audience the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Managing Director of FAAN and
his team who were at the Governor’s Office on official duty.
The Governor told the FAAN-led CEO/MD, Captain Rabiu Yadudu that he has always believed that the Aviation Sector must be encouraged to be run professionally, noting that as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, he was key to the development of a roadmap on the reform of the aviation industry.
“I have always believed that FAAN must be encouraged to run the
sector professionally. The industry is not what people think in terms of
funding, the reason for government intervention.”
Governor Uzodimma said many people think that a good airport is
having good terminal building, stressing that the issue of runway,
perimeter fencing, aircraft parking lot, taxing way, security and
insurance are indices that those who frequently fly take into
consideration before buying ticket.
The Governor said the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
Owerri is commercially viable and attracts traffic and has the
potentials of doing better if more attention is paid in standardizing
the existing infrastructure, including the insurance policy around the
airport.
He said since FAAN subscribes to membership of all world bodies
and was committed to submitting to the ethics of the industry in line
with global practices, the leadership should also hope to reap the
benefit.
Governor Uzodimma told his visitors that they both “have a job
to do” and urged Capt Yadudu to oblige him with the Status Report on the
Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport that ought to define where the
place is now in terms of what has been done so that he can be properly
guided.
“You have a willing partner. We have to just succeed,” the
governor noted, adding that visible and invisible partnership with
government is key to survival of airports.
Earlier, Capt Yadudu informed Governor Uzodimma that the Owerri
airport has been maintaining a lead market and traffic for five years
now in Nigeria and that the airport can move to the first or second
position in the country if the necessary infrastructure are put in place
to make the airport more competitive.
He regretted that it has become very difficult for the aviation
sector to survive today, noting that post Covid-19 flying requires
strategic thinking and that all hands must be on deck to pull out of the
wools.
The FAAN boss appealed to the Governor to help facilitate the
completion of the Cargo Operations Terminal by ensuring that the Runway
whose length is currently 2,700metres and width 45 metres, are increased
to 3000 metres of length and 60 metres of width respectively.
Captain Yadudu also told Governor Uzodimma that by assisting
FAAN bring the Runway, Taxing Way, Parking Bay, and other challenges
like security at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport to standard,
chances are the airport will become No 1 or No 2 in Nigeria, and the
implication will be increased revenue, more employment opportunities for
the people, more economic activities and better national and
international recognition for the airport and the host state.
Capt Yadudu, was accompanied to the meeting by the Director of
Human Resources, Nnoris Anozie, Generral Manager Projects, Eng. Yemi
Adeluso, the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport manager, Rejoice
Ndudinachi, and Chairman Aviation Infrastructure, Eng. Oliver Eberendu.
Also in audience was the Imo State Commissioner for Special Projects, Simon Ebegbulem.
NIGERIAN HORN
