…as Attah, ex-Akwa Ibom gov, decries absence of landing lights at Ibom airport

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has handed over a “Digital Tollgate at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri, to the Authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The governor said that the facility would enable FAAN Operatives to provide quality service to Imo people and Nigerians who patronise the Airport.

At the brief ceremony in Owerri, Governor Uzodinma said, “the facility was provided by the State Government to not only to beautify the Airport and its ambience, but to enable traffic management into and out of the airport, but also as an encouragement to FAAN to be able to provide quality service to the people.”

“Now, I found it expedient to hand it over to FAAN on behalf of the President when the facility was ready for use”, Governor Uzodinma added.

He thereafter inspected the facility to ascertain its optional functionality..

Earlier, Nkechi Ihekwuaba, the Airport manager, had welcomed the governor and his entourage, thanking them for finding time to formally hand over the facility to the Federal Government Agency.

She however used the opportunity to thank Governor Uzodinma for, “providing the beautiful structure that beautifies the Airport,” and humbly requested him to “approve that FAAN goes ahead to start the use of the tollgate.”
Meanwhile, Obong Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State has expressed concern over the continued absence of landing lights at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom Sstate, causing the Airport to operate only daylight flights and oftentimes, prompting diversion of flights to nearby Airports.

BusinessDay recalls that during last month’s World Cup Qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria, the South African squad could not fly directly to Uyo but had to be diverted to the airport in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Many other business travellers have also experienced similar inconveniences following the absence of landing lights at the Ibom Airport in Uyo.

Attah said he suffered tremendously when his flight from Lagos to Uyo scheduled for 5:30 pm was cancelled because the runway lights were not working, forcing Uyo Airport to operate daylight flights only.

The former governor,, who spoke in an interview he granted an online newspaper, The Southern Examiner said he could not understand why an Airport should operate without night flights, adding that most Airports depend on night flights to generate revenue.

“I really cannot understand, this is your main gateway, how can you not make sure it serves its purpose and night flights are really what most Airports depend on”, he noted.

He also decried the inability of successive Administrations in Akwa Ibom State to complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at the Ibom Airport, saying the Aiport is a necessary facility for the West African region.