Federal and Enugu State governments are set for the completion of the international terminal and the construction of a cargo terminal and warehouses at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The two projects received a boost when the two parties constituted a committee to fine-tune the terms of cooperation between the state government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN).
The committee will also work out other modalities towards the actualisation of the long-awaited infrastructural upgrade.
The committee will be chaired by the state commissioner for transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor and co-chaired by Mr. Hycienth Ngwu, head of business development of FAAN.
Consequently, the managing director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, lauded what she described as “the wisdom of the Enugu State government to partner with FAAN in providing critical infrastructure that will enhance the ability of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in providing seamless operations in cargo, domestic, and international passenger facilitation.”
At a meeting between the state government and FAAN at the Government House, Enugu, Mrs. Kuku said the infrastructural upgrade, when completed, would “catalyse the business potential of the South East region, increase wealth creation within the zone, reduce poverty, and enhance the GDP of the states within this geopolitical zone.”
She said separate studies by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Airport Transport Association (IATA) had shown that “airports are engines of economic growth and that “one percent of a state budgetary allocation spent on an airport has the ability to triple the state’s GDP.”
“In this regard, we welcome the nomination of experts from the state and from FAAN to join a committee that will commence further actions and with timelines. That will aid in signing the necessary MOU for the immediate implementation of the project as envisioned by the governor,” she stated.
In his response, Governor Peter Mba, reiterated his administration’s determination to make the state the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism, and living as well as grow the state’s economy from the current $4.4 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to $30 billion GDP in the next four to eight years. He, however, said that the government was aware that such exponential growth would not happen without providing the necessary environment, including world class airport, aviation, and logistics services, that would make the state attractive to private investors.
“For example, in our plan for tourism, we have projected to have over three million visitors come into Enugu State every year from next year. So, when we think in numbers, in terms of logistics, we will be expecting over 100 flights to come into Enugu on a daily basis. Therefore, the current infrastructure cannot handle it.
“Therefore, we are going to work with you to operationalise the international wing of the airport. We are also interested in constructing the cargo terminal and warehouses,” the governor stated.
