By Chuks Okocha and Dele Ogbodo

The federal government Sunday stated that the remodelling work aimed at elevating the Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State, to international standard was still ongoing.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, Mr. Joe Obi, while clarifying on the comments allegedly made by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in a national daily yesterday, that the airport had been abandoned for ulterior motives, said nothing could be further from the truth.

He noted that the attention of the ministry was drawn to comments by Amaechi to the effect that the remodelling of the Port Harcourt International Airport had been “abandoned”, following his rift with President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, the comments of the governor were unfortunate, false and a measure of his well-known political grandstanding.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, we make haste to stress that aviation is a very professionalised industry and we do not in any way indulge in politicking. The ministry will therefore not be dragged into whatever political differences the governor is alleged to have with the presidency,” he said.

He said government was constrained to express disappointment with the comments of the governor, adding that if anything, the current Minister and Ministry of Aviation should be commended by Amaechi for intervening in the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt airport, which had been left to deteriorate over the years.

Obi said: “Anyone who was familiar with the airport in the past two years would readily commend the Ministry for its effort at remodelling the once neglected and derelict airport terminal.”

Work on the Port Harcourt airport, according to him, had not been abandoned as claimed by Amaechi, adding that work was currently going on according to schedule at the airport and, therefore, had never been delayed, halted or stopped even momentarily at any particular point in time. Anyone in doubt can go to the airport to check this out.

The special adviser stated that the “Port Harcourt International airport is a federal government facility and it will be fool-hardy to even contemplate halting the remodelling works going on there on political grounds. No responsible parent, he added would starve his child because he has a quarrel with a neighbour! That said, it is also important to note that the Port Harcourt airport is one out of the 11 airports we commenced remodelling under the First Phase of the exercise. Not all the 11 have been completed.”

Speaking further, he said: “Airports in the same category with Port Harcourt are the Murtala Mohammed and Margaret Ekpo International Airports Lagos and Calabar respectively, the Owerri, Jos, Kaduna, Ilorin and Yola airports.

“The question to ask is, is Mr. President also having a ‘rift’ with governors in these states that is why the remodelling works are yet to be completed? To illustrate the fact that we do not mix politics with aviation, the remodelling of the Malam Aminu Kano International airport, Kano has been completed and Commissioned in spite of the alleged differences between the Kano state governor and the Aviation Minister.”

He added: “The point to note was that the scope of work and the resources needed to execute the remodelling projects at the different airports are not the same. Ameachi ought to know that simply because several projects were commenced at the same time does not mean they all must be completed at the same time. We are satisfied with the progress of work at the airport.

“It is also untrue that the Ministry has refused to approve the importation of some helicopters by the Rivers state government. Anyone, including state governments and corporate organisations that fulfil all mandatory requirements for importation of aircraft will be given due approvals.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/oduah-port-harcourt-airport-not-abandoned/159689/

K

This Amechi sef. Always crying foul in oder to cury sympathy from the public. Put ur azz down n work. Roads in PH are nothing to be proud of yet u leave them to pusue shadow.

When his mates are building world class Airports from scratch Amaechi is crying over Airport renovation that is On going !

Amaechi's light Rail project Needed Funds if it had to be completed after the partners realised he is not a Serious person they abandoned the project instead of this Guy to channel Funds to complete the project he went about Buying helicopters and state of the art aeroplanes for his personal Use !
Amaechi should sit down in PH and do the work he was elected to do and stop sharing brown Envelopes to journalist to give him platforms to spew his lies

GOD BLESS NIGERIA

ochejoseph: When his mates are building world class Airports from scratch Amaechi is crying over Airport renovation that is On going !

Amaechi's light Rail project Needed Funds if it had to be completed after the partners realised he is not a Serious person they abandoned the project instead of this Guy to channel Funds to complete the project he went about Buying helicopters and state of the art aeroplanes for his personal Use !
Amaechi should sit down in PH and do the work he was elected to do and stop sharing brown Envelopes to journalist to give him platforms to spew his lies

GOD BLESS NIGERIA

But we have pics of Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Kano and Lagos airports, have u seen any of ph airport?

Those who built airport from scratch did so because they don't have anyone in their state. So, since Rivers state has one, there's no need building another. If the FG is sincere in fixing the ph airport the same way they did in others, the pics would be everywhere.

As for the light rail project time will tell.

The airport is either too slow or abandoned. How many years does it take to construct a "bus terminal"?

ochejoseph: When his mates are building world class Airports from scratch Amaechi is crying over Airport renovation that is On going !

There is no world class airport in Nigeria. If there is any, name it.

My dad was there less than 2 weeks ago and said most of it was blocked off due to on going construction

The work is too slow, travelled through there in January and it was hellish, dropped my friend off in August and it was even worse.

Pls Nlanders, help me ask Gov. Amaechi if his monorail project is also abandoned by de aviation minister. I think de minister needs a pat on de back for ha enviable strides @ transforming de aviation sector.
Ask him if de bad roads in PH are under de scope of de federal govt.
GEJ is working, some Govs are talking/making noise
Long Live GEJ
Long Live Naija
Goodluck to haters till 2019

Pukkah:

There is no world class airport in Nigeria. If there is any, name it.

Come to uyo.when we say akwa ibom ayaiya,we mean it

Itoroetti :


Come to uyo.when we say akwa ibom ayaiya,we mean it

What's the size of the airport? How many terminals/carousels does it have? How many aircrafts can it carry? What's the level of automation? What's the level of 'network' or IT support? How are the lounges?


What level of security is in place? How does the airport achieve the security level?

What leisure facilities are at the airport? How friendly are the staff members?

Answer these ones first.

Itoroetti :


Come to uyo.when we say akwa ibom ayaiya,we mean it

Did u know the definition/meaning of world class?

DeCleff:
But we have pics of Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Kano and Lagos airports, have u seen any of ph airport?

Those who built airport from scratch did so because they don't have anyone in their state. So, since Rivers state has one, there's no need building another. If the FG is sincere in fixing the ph airport the same way they did in others, the pics would be everywhere.

As for the light rail project time will tell.

If you don't know you ask.

Here's the PH airport undergoing massive remodelling:



..................................................[img]http://img1.nairaland.com/attachments/1245211_ph1_jpgcb727a60bc1302caf28f3ba50abcbf32[/img]

Itoroetti :


Come to uyo.when we say akwa ibom ayaiya,we mean it

Itoroetti, the Sarah Palin of Nigeria.

Amaechi pls complete your multi billion naira monorail to nowhere so i can jangilova

Rossikk:

If you don't know you ask.

Here's the PH airport undergoing massive remodelling:



..................................................[img]http://img1.nairaland.com/attachments/1245211_ph1_jpgcb727a60bc1302caf28f3ba50abcbf32[/img]

Rawsshit or what ever you call yourself I am sure you have never left this country and have no idea what modern infrastructure is suppose to be you just go around threads insulting people, which shows you have no class, discipline and maturity. All these projects you are trying to prove that the government is working is not even 1/3 of what it is suppose to be according to the governments incoming capital and assets! So when your slave master take a pay cut or at least just live on the exhubrent salaries and leave the money for development, schools and health for qualified organizations to make use of then you can come here and raise your shoulder but until we see drastic changes in all sectors your just another wicked thief like your slave masters. We know how much it cost and how long it takes to to complete projects, stop taking up for these Poli-theifs like they are doing us a freaking favor. If you want to show us projects that are completed on time with an expenditure that makes sense that is very good, but stop coming on this forum acting like we are ungrateful and asking for too much, stop insulting people for no reason if you have a point to make just make it you are such a low life and it will never be well with you if you continue your propaganda of lies deceit and insults.

It's a Nigerian thing, and it's not just the federal gov't that's guilty of this......something that would take at least 8 months to complete (it's not like they're building Heathrow T5 for chrissakes!), in Nigeria they'd string it out for more than 2 years for all sorts of annoying reasons like: lack of funds; weather; lack of seriousness and commitment; poor monitoring of projects as a result of; collusion between gov't officials and contractors to 'chop' funds meant for the project; running about like headless chickens revising plans and designs as they go along due to improper planning at the beginning!

Looking at the pics of the airport shown, it's obvious that if they were serious and provided ALL necessary funds, and then gave the contract to the robotic Chinese, that project could be completed within 2 months maximum!

IGBO-SON:
It's a Nigerian thing, and it's not just the federal gov't that's guilty of this......something that would take at least 8 months to complete (it's not like they're building Heathrow T5 for chrissakes!), in Nigeria they'd string it out for more than 2 years for all sorts of annoying reasons like: lack of funds; weather; lack of seriousness and commitment; running about like headless chickens revising plans and designs as they go along due to improper planning at the beginning!

Looking at the pics of the airport shown, it's obvious that if they were serious and provided ALL necessary funds, and then gave the contract to the robotic Chinese, that project could be completed within 2 months maximum!

End of Story!

Amaechi should first remove the massive log of wood in his eyes so he can see clearly to point at uncompleted FG projects. He set out to build 750 model schools in 2007. 6 years after, how many has been completed and how many has taken in students? The latest information is that he'll be completing 250 by this Oct. So what happened to the remaining 500? How far with his monorail project? Its now taking eternity to complete. What about the numerous ongoing road projects in the state? Were they stopped by the aviation minister? Nonsense!

pls if there is none, build one for us so we can have one. We criticise so much with no contribution. I'm a proud Nigerian, no one would come here to make this nation gr8 for us. have travelled to most African countries and can comfortably say apart from FEW airports in SA, ours is among the best.
God bless Nigeria

Pukkah:

There is no world class airport in Nigeria. If there is any, name it.

biafranqueen: Rawsshit or what ever you call yourself I am sure you have never left this country and have no idea what modern infrastructure is suppose to be you just go around threads insulting people, which shows you have no class, discipline and maturity. All these projects you are trying to prove that the government is working is not even 1/3 of what it is suppose to be according to the governments incoming capital and assets! So when your slave master take a pay cut or at least just live on the exhubrent salaries and leave the money for development, schools and health for qualified organizations to make use of then you can come here and raise your shoulder but until we see drastic changes in all sectors your just another wicked thief like your slave masters. We know how much it cost and how long it takes to to complete projects, stop taking up for these Poli-theifs like they are doing us a freaking favor. If you want to show us projects that are completed on time with an expenditure that makes sense that is very good, but stop coming on this forum acting like we are ungrateful and asking for too much, stop insulting people for no reason if you have a point to make just make it you are such a low life and it will never be well with you if you continue your propaganda of lies deceit and insults.

Your general emotional outbursts is meaningless. Lets be specific in our criticisms.

Some of these general outbursts presupposes that those in govt are always wrong while those outside govt are always right or have Solomic wisdom. That in itself is wrong because all of those inside govt today did not fall from the sky. They came from among those outside govt yesterday. Even those in govt today, will tomorrow find themselves outside govt and are replaced with some of those outside govt.

For instance, prior to 2010, many of the ministers in GEJ govt were outside govt but today they'r inside govt. The 9 ministers that were sacked recently have moved from inside govt and have joined those of us outside govt.

So in essence, its a cycle. If those inside govt ALWAYS get it WRONG (like your post seems to suggest), then something must be wrong with totality of us as Nigerians. It means that something is wrong with both those inside and outside govt.

But I dont think that is the case. Criticisms should be SPECIFIC. Everything in govt cant always be wrong. Pick out areas you feel govt is not doing well, place them on the table, including how better things could have been done. That is the criticisms that MAKE SENSE. That is the criticisms that BUILDS a nation. This us (those outside govt) versus them (those inside govt) mentality does more HARM than good to the country as a whole.

Lastly, we must recognise that there are FUNDAMENTAL flaws in the structure of Nigeria that make RAPID development impossible. These flaws were CREATED and ENTRENCHED by military rule. Unfortunately, no civillian president can change these fundamental flaws because its now a constitutional matter that requires 2/3 lawmakers and states to amend. And no civillian president can get those numbers for changes to be made. So essence, Nigeria could be likened to a train with capacity to travel at 100km per hour but can only travel at 50km per hour.

Sincere 9gerian:
Your general emotional outbursts is meaningless. Lets be specific in our criticisms.

Some of these general outbursts presupposes that those in govt are always wrong while those outside govt are always right or have Solomic wisdom. That in itself is wrong because all of those inside govt today did not fall from the sky. They came from among those outside govt yesterday. Even those in govt today, will tomorrow find themselves outside govt and are replaced with some of those outside govt.

For instance, prior to 2010, many of the ministers in GEJ govt were outside govt but today they'r inside govt. The 9 ministers that were sacked recently have moved from inside govt and have joined those of us outside govt.

So in essence, its a cycle. If those inside govt ALWAYS get it WRONG (like your post seems to suggest), then something must be wrong with totality of us as Nigerians. It means that something is wrong with both those inside and outside govt.

But I dont think that is the case. Criticisms should be SPECIFIC. Everything in govt cant always be wrong. Pick out areas you feel govt is not doing well, place them on the table, including how better things could have been done. That is the criticisms that MAKE SENSE. That is the criticisms that BUILDS a nation. This us (those outside govt) versus them (those inside govt) mentality does more HARM than good to the country as a whole.

Lastly, we must recognise that there are FUNDAMENTAL flaws in the structure of Nigeria that make RAPID development impossible. These flaws were CREATED and ENTRENCHED by military rule. Unfortunately, no civillian president can change these fundamental flaws because its now a constitutional matter that requires 2/3 lawmakers and states to amend. And no civillian president can get those numbers for changes to be made. So essence, Nigeria could be likened to a train with capacity to travel at 100km per hour but can only travel at 50km per hour.

Booda Ode!

buchiuzor: pls if there is none, build one for us so we can have one. We criticise so much with no contribution. I'm a proud Nigerian, no one would come here to make this nation gr8 for us. have travelled to most African countries and can comfortably say apart from FEW airports in SA, ours is among the best.
God bless Nigeria

Self-consolation or satisfaction with the status quo won't get you anywhere. Expressing love for backward things in Nigeria isn't patriotism but mediocrity.

Nigeria has the capacity to have world class airports but has none till date. So why not talk about the issue rather than intolerantly say 'God bless Nigeria' in a manner that pats the corrupt leaders on the back?

Tell me, how does telling that other person that there's no world class airport in Nigeria amount to 'too much criticism'? You must realize that you need to get out of your comfort zone to make progress.

I don't know how sane Nigerians are expected to keep quiet when they see the parlous state of MMIA (our 'flagship' airport). What manner of people would expect others to keep quiet when the shoddy and severely limited work at MMIA is being passed off as 'transformation' of the airport!


Did your travel to 'most' African countries take you to North Africa? How do you compare their airports?

Also, out of the African countries you've visited, how many are richer than Nigeria?

You should also know that I'm not the one that will build an airport for you. Or did you vote me into any office? Hold your corrupt and ideas-deficient leaders responsible and purge yourself of mediocrity.

There's no world class airport in Nigeria. Fact.

Anyone whose ox is gored on this statement should step forward.

Of course I'm not talking to the horde of paid agents and mercenaries who flock here daily. I don't engage those who refer to white as black just to eke out a living.

Igbo-son captured the true position of things regarding government projects in Nigeria. Silly reasons like lack of funds; weather, contractors going AWOL, bad planning come up.

All these I've noticed in the reconstruction of Omagwa airport. In truth, FG has been so lazy and uncommitted to that project. When I was resident in PH, my worst days were the times I had to fly through the airport or went to welcome or drop somebody there. The suffering and hardship of over 2years due to delays in the reconstruction is not something to joke about.

Same with the Rivers state government. The delay in the reconstruction of Okporo road is epic! Matter of fact, Amechi lost my respect far back because of that road.

And please, I don't want to talk about the joke called mono-raail. Countless times I went to "Town" in my 3 years stay in PH, each of those times I asked myself or whoever was with me (stranger or not), is Amechi a slowpoke or just an outright fraud? Who sold such idea to him?

Given the Nbillions that have been "pumped" into it and the anticipated routes, the mono-rail project usually leaves me laughing so hard or crying real tears.

[size=15pt]Nigerians must be watchful

The next thing Amaechi go orchestrate an accident at the airport just to buttress his point for the masses to blame GEJ and Oduah

No be today we sabi am![/size]