The Akwa Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel, has said his administration is planning to launch a state-owned airline, Ibom Air, to “lessen the problems currently being encountered by numerous air travellers” to the state.

Mr Emmanuel said this on Friday in Uyo, during the annual state-sponsored Christmas Carol night.

The governor said the planned airline, which would be wholly owned by the state, would ensure the state remains a destination of choice for foreign investors.

“Our state-owned and run Obong Victor Attah International Airport has a category 2 runway and work is ongoing on the second taxi way,” the governor said.

The governor also said work was going on “steadily” on the Ibom Deep Seaport, in addition to numerous road projects across the state.

“Our dream to open up our state through land, air, and sea will come full cycle,” he said.

Mr Emmanuel also used the opportunity to blast his critics.

“When we promised all these, our naysayers said it couldn’t be done, and some are still deluding themselves that it hasn’t been done, even when they are driving on the road we have built, are enjoying the steady electricity we have provided, are being treated in the world class hospitals we have remodelled and equipped with modern amenities, and whose children are receiving quality education in our public schools,” the governor said.

“We will, however, not relent, we will not give in to propaganda or blackmail,” he added.

Godswill Akpabio, a senator and former governor of the state, was absent, for the first time, at the Christmas Carol which was conceived during his administration.

Mr Akpabio, who helped Mr Emmanuel become governor – against all odds – in 2015, has vowed to stop his re-election in 2019.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/302466-akwa-ibom-to-launch-own-airline-governor-emmanuel.html

Very good i hope the state will manage it properly

I'm still waiting for International terminal, cargo operations and MRO at the airport. None of these projects have been completed and he's talking about Airline. If he finished these airport upgrades he would attract more private airlines to Akwa Ibom.

Digital governor with digital performance

Lagos cant think of this even with 50bn monthly IGR, they cannot complete common light rail project in 19yrs due to corruption

A confused government with loads of abandoned project

GOD has Remembered Akwa ibom State for good!

Udom is A Gift to Akwa ibom...

Akwaibom Dakada....

good idea

Dear Mr. Governor, why not ensure that the sea port which will be of immense benefit to the citizens is speedily completed?

It's good to dream big but set priorities right.

Foolishness in display.

Akwa Ibom. Are u ready for this?

.

Lol....airline....hope he has done his feasibility studies.... because I don't know what he needs the airline for? What is the traffic to Always ibom like? He should use the money to work on his schools instead

Rem22:
A confused government with loads of abandoned project

Why can't you appreciate for once??

Good

AZeD1:
Foolishness in display.

Painmemt in display

AZeD1:
Foolishness in display.

is it painful to ur soul?

unmask:
Lol....airline....hope he has done his feasibility studies.... because I don't know what he needs the airline for? What is the traffic to Always ibom like? He should use the money to work on his schools instead

Pls when you become a governor you can attend to issues the way you like
For me industrialization has come to stay

AllenSpencer:
Obiano comes to mind

He invited statesmen to the ground breaking of a proposed Airport in Anambra several months ago


We all know the rest.......

Robot
Default language: hatred

LibertyRep:
Dear Mr. Governor, why not ensure that the sea port which will be of immense benefit to the citizens is speedily completed?

It's good to dream big but set priorities right.

Pls reread this thread again

Gov. Udom wan launch Akwa Ibom to perpetual indebtedness.

For the sake of akwa ibom people I just hope it's a statement made for the purpose of the 2019 general election which is intended to hype and nothing more

manutdrichie:
Digital governor with digital performance

Lagos cant think of this even with 50bn monthly IGR, they cannot complete common light rail project in 19yrs due to corruption

N50b monthly earnings is just on paper, Lagos owes more than N800b and the debts are rising. By 2023 when a good number of the non indigenes doing business in Lagos are forced to relocate ,then it would be open to every one that Lagos has been wrecked by APC and Tinubu

Akwa ibom and white elephant projects

Hope Buhari will learn from Gov Emmanuel Udom on how to float an airline successfully not following the footsteps of the drug baron from the Waste who is only good in looting.

Government run airline. First question to ask yourself, what has any government in Nigeria run so well before? Please point to just one government corporation that is well managed successfully. Even in advanced economies, it was a failure.

Mismanagement is so sure!

They are honestly mad in this country.

I can see why we can never ever grow. Another billion would be sunk into this and stolen.


Give it 3 years and the airline is bankrupted and looted to the ground..

By the way, we can now see the effects of the useless education being passed to people in our higher institutions. How would owning an airline improve the rate at which foreign investors flock into a state? Like seriously? A governor actually spout that out and he wasnt called out on such BS?

How far has the governor gone with the proposed world class cattle range? How about the Mexican cattles that were already paid for since two years ago? How about the car assembly plant? How about the tooth pick,meterng,peacock paint company? Are they functional? Oga governor please fear God. Akpabio was not like you. I know the shoes Akpabio left behind are so big for you.

ajl:
Government run airline. First question to ask yourself, what has any government in Nigeria run so well before? Please point to just one government corporation that is well managed successfully. Even in advanced economies, it was a failure.

Akwa Ibom Transport Company is still alive and doing very well.