Akwa Ibom Governor Canvasses Collaboration With FG On Aviation Investments | Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Source: Independent Newspapers Nigeria

LAGOS - The Akwa Ibom State Government has called on the Federal Government to partner with the state on its tripod aviation ecosystem.

The projects; Ibom Air, Smart Terminal and the Maintenance, Repair and Organisation (MRO), Mr. Umo Eno, the State Government said are changing the face of aviation in Nigeria.

Speaking with aviation journalists on the airline's inaugural commercial flight from Uyo to Lagos and back, Eno maintained that the State Government was intentional with its vision.

According to him, the plan of the Federal Government to establish an MRO would become easier through its partnership with an already established facility.

Eno emphasised further that the State Government would continue to support Ibom Air in its growth drive.

He further emphasised that the State Government had been following up with its plan to develop the airline, which he posited had been yielding the expected result.

He said there is a plan which the state is following up on and that plan is yielding fruit with the aircraft starting commercial service.

Besides, he stated that the government was setting up aviation hub that would serve the West Coast region.

He said: "It is a deliberately planned ecosystem around the vision to be able to have the MRO, take care of flights not just Ibom Air but all around. Nigeria right now is trying to build one, it would take some years. We have one on the ground already so we are saying Nigeria, come and let's partner and get it done.

"We want Uyo to be the aviation hub that would serve the region. They are building the aviation ecosystem in Uyo. You need to come there and see for yourself and compare whether we are the best or not.

"Though, it is a deliberately planned ecosystem around the vision to be able to have the MRO, take care of flights not just ibom Air, but all around. Nigeria right now is trying to build one, it would take donkey years. We have one on ground already, so we are saying Nigeria, come and let's partner and get it done.

"The Aviation Minister had been there before, we have the smart terminal, we want Uyo to be the aviation hub that would serve the West Coast. I know we have a plan and we are following up on that plan that is how you are seeing with the aircraft you are seeing now."