Akwa Ibom Airport To Launch Int’l Flight Operations

Following the certification of the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA) to fly internationally, contractors and regulators from government have intensified efforts to meet the April deadline given by Governor Umo Eno to finish the terminal building.

Towards this end, checks LEADERSHIP revealed that work has been progressing towards achieving the goal with the delivery of two Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs) at the new smart terminal building.

Two extra – long bridges moving at a  speed of 25km/hr arrived at the airport on Monday, three days after leaving the Onne Port in River State.

Other lighter components of the two Bridges which left Friday evening had earlier arrived on Saturday as the Akwa Ibom State government’s aviation development plan gain momentum.

Officials, including the State Commissioner for Finance and Special Duties, Emem Bob, and the Chairman of VKS Construction Ltd, Engr. Oliver Ebong, and the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Dr. Essien Ndueso, were on ground to take delivery of the  equipment.

The State Commissioner for Finance and supervisory Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Emem Bob, said the governor is committed to delivering an efficient, world-class airport and is working to ensure the facility becomes fully operational by the first week of April.

He commended Governor Eno for his sustained efforts to finalize the operations at the airport and position Akwa Ibom State as a regional and international aviation hub.

“Our Governor is renowned as the Governor with the finisher’s anointing, and he is showing that in the completion of this airport.

“The project is totally funded by the state government and the Governor has not borrowed any money in projects he is executing across the State,” he added.

On his part, Engr. Oliver Ebong said he was excited to be considered by the Akwa Ibom State Government for such an ambitious project.

He stated that VKS Construction Ltd is confident the terminal will be fully ready for use by the end of March, ahead of the April deadline.

Conducting journalists around the terminal building, Chief Ebong said the terminal facility was the first of its kind in the country with the most sophisticated ICT, electricity supply, and  security  technology.

“Some of these equipment have never been brought into the country hence it was difficult to appropriately label them during transit. But we are happy that they have safely arrived”, Engr. Ebong said.