TheCable

Akwa Ibom State Government under Governor Udom Emmanuel made history on Wednesday by being the first state to launch a commercial airline business, tagged Ibom Air.

The state aims to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs with the airline and to enhance its acquisition of advanced skills by the people of the state who would benefit from aeronautical training as pilots, engineers, cabin crew and others.

While two of the aircrafts, CRJ 900 series from Canada with registration C-FWNL and C-FWNK arrived the state on Wednesday for operation, the third in the fleet is being expected on Friday, February 22.

The planes which are about six years old since being manufactured were unveiled by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Victor Attah International Stadium, Uyo.

Unveiling the airline, the Senate President expressed joy to be part of the historic event created by the state government which was not just about to celebrate tourism and aviation but also an historic event for sons, daughters and government of Akwa Ibom State.

“Today is to celebrate leadership and to say that a good thing can come out of Nigeria, today we celebrate the audacity of hope, today we celebrate a man who has a dream for his people and does not stop until
that dream is realized.”

Saraki noted that the coming to fruition of the Ibom Air showed that the Governor Emmanuel is always thinking on how to make live better for his people, bring investment to the state, improve governance and
provide leadership. “I congratulate you. We are proud of you in PDP family that you are one of us.

“Today is what we have been talking about in the last few weeks of our campaign across this country that there is a different when you have a man that understands what you need to do. When you have a man from the private sector of a business that understand what it takes to bring in investment.”

“Millions of youths are looking for job, government on its own cannot provide those job it is the government that can facilitate an environment for investment that will bring hope for our people that is what Udom is doing here” the Senate President said he stated.

Governor Emmanuel while speaking said the airline was a monumental achievement of his administration saying the aircraft were only six years old and with a sitting capacity of about 90 persons constitute the newest and modern fleet of commercial aircraft in the country”.

He noted that Akwa Ibom is the only state in the country to run a state owned airport and run an airline, adding that the government is running Ibom Air as a business.

The governor explained that the Ibom airline will operate routes that would give preference to Akwa Ibom people, and that the government would soon launch one of the best terminal buildings in this country.

According to Governor Emmanuel, the State government has strived to focus development of the state economy on land, air and water, noting that so far, the state government has constructed over 1,000 kilometers of roads across the state while plan to construct the most digital seaport, the Ibom deep seaport in the state  was on.

“The unveiling of Ibom Air is a monumental achievement in Akwa Ibom state and indeed Africa. The journey to achieve Ibom airline started in 2016 and today, it is a reality.

“If we were to search the minds of people, this day would have been frustrated but we give glory to God for making this day a reality.

“I want to charge my people that we can achieve a lot if we come together. This is the only state across the country that runs and operates an international airport. We are the only state that runs a category two run way.

“I want to reassure the former governor, Obong Victor Attah that very soon the MRO will be a place that will maintain fleets of aircraft across the country. We are running Ibom Air as a business, paying particular attention to Akwa Ibom people.” he declared.

Former governor of the state and initiator of the airport project, Obong Victor Attah lauded the governor for carrying on the project he started, adding that he was happy that the governor was running the state as a business.

“I thank God that we have Governor Udom Emmanuel who has deemed it necessary to carry on the project we started years ago. I was accused of running the government as a business but I am happy that Udom Emmanuel is running the government as a business. Today we have in front of us the beginning of something that will bring economic development to the state,” he said.

The Chairman, Ibom Air, Idongesit Nkanga, said with the launch of the aircraft, the state governor has shocked critics with his managerial prowess.

The airline, he said will boost the realisation of the MRO facility within the region, adding that there is no stopping the visionary and industrial initiative of Governor Emmanuel.

The Technical Consultant of Ibom Air, Mfon Udom gave credit to Governor Emmanuel for the project which he said commenced three years ago, noting that successful airlines across the world have been run by
governments.

He revealed that the third aircraft will arrive the state on Friday, another one in August, three others in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

“The project commenced about three years ago and has been made possible by the governor. The governor came up with the drive and we carried it out. Ibom air is one of the vehicles to drive Akwa Ibom and the state will benefit immensely from this.

“One airplane will arrive on Friday, one in August, three will join in 2020 and three others in 2021. The plan is for Ibom air to be a regional air. Ibom air will fly three frequencies a day from Uyo to Lagos, morning, afternoon, evening.

“The policy of Ibom Air is that Ibom Air will fly when our customers want to fly and not when it wants to fly. All successful airlines in the world is government owned; British airways is still supported by
government.

“The government has taken the right steps. Ibom air will employ 300 people but 3,000 people will be involved in Ibom Air at one time or the other, excellent managers have been selected,” he stated.