APC NWC Members, 2 Former Katsina Governors & Pastor Odumeje On Board As United Nigeria Airlines Launches Abuja-Katsina Route

ROMANUS UGWU 

History was made on Monday when United Nigeria Airlines undertook its inaugural flight from Abuja to Katsina to formally launch the route.

Those on board during the inaugural flight include two former Katsina governors, Ibrahim Shema and Aminu Bello Masari, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), comprising the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, National Organising Secretary, Ibrahim Argungu, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Jide Mesoko, among others.

The hitch-free 50-minute inaugural flight, which took off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja by 3.10 pm, finally made a peaceful landing at the Umar Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina the State Capital by 4.00 pm to the jubilation of the delegates and the host State government led by the governor, Dikko Umar Radda.

On arrival, the delegation from Abuja, led by the Chairman of the airline, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, was received by the jubilant State governor’s team, the drumming and dancing from an Igbo cultural troop, among other dignitaries on ground to be part of the brief ceremony held at the airport.

Speaking at the event, the Katsina governor, the elders of the State and the national leadership of the ruling party showered encomiums on the chairman of United Nigeria Airlines for bringing development to the State.

While commending Okonkwo, who is an aspirant for the Anambra State governorship election, Governor Radar specifically admitted that the entrance of the airline into the route will definitely improve the economic fortune of the State.

He said, “The commencement of daily flight has shown that the State and the route have grown. We started with a weekly flight, and it has grown to a daily one. What we are seeing today is the third airline that has joined the route to provide services to the people of Katsina State.

“With this, we can say that air business has grown to the level we want it, and people have options to carry out their businesses because they can come and leave Katsina the same day after finishing their businesses. This has opened businesses and the economy of the State, making investors and other businesses to come to this State.

“We want to thank United Nigeria for the speedy response they put this in place, and I am happy that we have launched the first flight by the airline, and I know that it’s a good development for our economy. We thank you for rendering this business to Katsina, and we believe that you will ensure the sustenance of the business and bring opportunities to our teaming youths,” he said.

On his part, Bello Masari said: “We are very grateful to United Airlines for coming at this time we have challenges of flying from Katsina to other parts of the country. We also thank those who made it possible for the airline to start operations particularly the chairman, who has promised that he will continue.

“We appeal to you to depart and arrive on schedule because it gives confidence to the passengers. We hope that the collectivity to Katsina should be all over the country and even outside the country,” he said.

Equally commending Professor Okonkwo, APC National scribe, Ajibola, said: “On behalf of our National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the entire NWC of APC, we congratulate the Governor of Katsina State and the management of United Nigeria Airlines for this milestone achievement.”

“As we know, mobility is essential to the realisation of economic development, particularly on the area of tourism, and Katsina is one of the indigenous States in Nigeria and very central to the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“We thank United Nigeria for seeing this as an opportunity and a gap that has to be filled immediately and for acting immediately.

“We also commend the vision of the Governor of Katsina Umoru Radar for the milestone activities he has recorded. I congratulate the two former governors, and their presence shows that there is coerciveness in the State,” he said.

On his part, Shema, in praising Okonkwo, said: “He appealed to the chairman to create an interconnectivity to other States so that it can enable passengers to reach other States in the country.”

Earlier, Prof Okonkwo had assured that the route has come to stay, stressing, “Our happiness and the biggest takeaway is that we are uniting Katsina with the rest of the country. That is our words and what we worked for.

“We thank them for the opportunity. The people of Katsina will enjoy us as long as we remain in business, and we are looking forward to the food days,” he said.