Gov Udom Donates Land For Proposed Air Traffic School

Plans are underway for the establishment of an Air Traffic Training School in Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, who presented a Certificate of Occupancy of the proposed 30-hectare project site to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo, Friday in Uyo, said the state was the best location for the establishment of the Air Traffic School.

The State Governor, who received the Air Marshal Amoo on a condolence visit over the demise of the former Airforce Chief, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok, declared the readiness of the state government to strengthen its partnership with the Nigerian military.

Expatiating further on the state’s preparedness to partner the Nigerian Airforce, he said the terminal building under construction in the state-owned airport upon completion will be unprecedented and that the state would soon complete an in-country Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility that would offer such services without need for foreign exchange.

“Our major gateways of development are at advanced state.

“Our road network is one of the best in the whole country. Talk about air, our airport has an upgraded category two runway that can still take commercial flights even in bad weather, by the time we finish our terminal building, it will have no rival in Africa.

“Even our taxiway is built as a proper runway so it can serve anytime we want to resurface the main runway.

“So you can’t have air training school anywhere in this country better than in Akwa Ibom.

“We have a lot in terms of infrastructure that we can partner.

“Our MRO will soon be ready, so flying your aircrafts abroad for servicing will no more be fanciful.

“Pay us Naira, use our facilities and you serve your foreign exchange”, he added.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for sending his condolences to the family of late Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok, and also used the occasion to condole with the families of the Air Force officers who lost their lives in the recent plane crash near the Abuja Airport.

Governor Emmanuel congratulated the new Air Force Chief on his elevation and prayed that his efforts in curbing insecurity in the various parts of the country yield results.

The governor commended the high standards and professionalism brought to bear in the administration of the Nigerian Air Force School in the state, and expressed the hope that the standards would be sustained.

Governor Emmanuel called on the service chiefs to take advantage of the Akwa Ibom’s rapid development of the major gateways of aviation, seaport and expansive road network, as well as the luxury estates underway in the state, describing the state as the emerging destination for investment and tourism.

In an earlier remark, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, thanked the Governor for a warm reception accorded him, the logistics support given for the burial of late Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok and for the C of O allocating 30 hectares of land for the Air Traffic School in the state.

He assured the state government that the Nigerian Air Force will expedite action towards the establishment of the school.