UZODIMMA ASSURES FAAN OF SUPPORT ON OWERRI AIRPORT
GOVERNMENT
OF IMO STATE
PRESS
RELEASE
Uzodimma Assures FAAN of Support on Owerri Airport
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.
Governor 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.
Oguwike Nwachuku
CPS/Media Adviser to the Governor
of Imo State
July 25, 2020
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