The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has declared that the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, has the potential to become the best aviation hub in Africa.
He said the feat will be attained when the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, now at about 95 percent completion, is inaugurated.
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The minister made the assertion in Uyo, the state capital, after an inspection tour of ongoing work on some of the airport’s facilities on Tuesday.
He said, “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 potential of this place is 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 subnational that is so dedicated and committed to a project of this magnitude 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 minister also affirmed that “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 and all the regulatory bodies to make sure they give you 100 percent support, and we are confident you will keep to international standards.
“The DG of the 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,” he said.
Late last year, Governor Umo Eno met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to solicit the federal government’s support for the formal take-off of the MRO and the Smart International Airport Terminal. The minister’s visit and that of other top officials of the ministry marked the culmination of the initial meetings.