Ime Akpan
The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has said that the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA), Uyo is a hidden treasure which “will capture the whole of the markets in West and Central Africa and even up to North Africa” when it is fully completed.
The minister made the remark in a speech in Uyo after a guided tour of the airport led by the state governor, Mr Umo Eno.
Keyamo who highlighted the strategic significance of the airport’s maintenance, repairs, and overhaul (MRO) facility, describing it as “the first of its kind in the country,” and “an incredible facility,” promised to ‘mobilise all the agencies in my ministry, all the regulatory bodies to make sure they give you 100 per cent support.”
He further said he was confident the facility would “keep to international standards” adding that it would serve not only Nigeria but also the entirety of West, East, and North Africa.
He said when the MRO comes on stream, it would conserve foreign exchange for Nigeria and Nigerian carriers would be saved the trouble of ferrying their aircraft overseas for maintenance.
“One of the problems hampering the operation of the aviation sector in Nigeria has always been the lack of facilities such as this. Our aircraft will go out of the country for maintenance and may be there for months. But with this facility, we can conserve foreign exchange so they may meet their international obligations,” he stated.
Keyamo’s remarks:
“This is an incredible facility you have here. One of the first things I identified when I came into office was the need for us to have a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria, a world-class one and what I have seen here, meets that need.
“The potentials of this place are huge. It’s about 90-95 percent complete and by the time it becomes fully operational, I am very certain it will capture the whole of the markets in West and Central Africa and even up to North Africa and that’s what we have been looking for.
“One of the problems hampering the operation of the aviation sector in Nigeria has always been the lack of facilities such as this. Our aircraft will go out of the country for maintenance and may be there for months. But with this facility, we can conserve foreign exchange so they may meet their international obligations.
“There are two projects currently ongoing here: The new international terminal building and of course the MRO. It’s not just a terminal building, what I am seeing here is a hub. It’s a proper hub where we can process international passengers and transfer them from one section to the other for them to catch their international flights.
“What we have here is a hidden jewel, but it’s all for the good of our dear nation.
“This is so beautiful. I have never seen a sub-national that is so dedicated, so committed to a project of this magnitude as much as Akwa Ibom State and God has blessed this State with successive Governors who have put their minds to this, and Governor Eno is the finisher and perfecter of this race.
“I just want to thank God for the people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria for blessing us with a facility such as this. By the time we do all our certifications, I am sure we will be ready for the world. This facility is not just for Akwa Ibom State alone, it is for Nigeria and Africa.
“The international terminal has met all the standards to be certified an international airport. The dedication to this project has been phenomenal. I will mobilize all the agencies in my Ministry, all the regulatory bodies to make sure they give you 100 percent support and we are confident you will keep to international standards.
“The director general of NCAA is here and we stand ready to give you all our maximum support. I want to thank Governor Eno, for the passion he has shown towards this project since he came into office.”
