Akwa Ibom State government and Messrs ALCON Nigeria Limited Monday signed a contract of N18.05 billion for the construction of the international terminal of the Ibom International Airport.

Speaking during the contract signing ceremony at the Government House, Uyo, the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio said the ceremony was in line with his administration’s quest to continue the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom state particularly from being a pedestrian state into a destination state.

He said at the advent of his administration in 2007 that he promised the people that it was his commitment to complete the first phase of the airport. Saying that not minding the controversy that surrounded the percentage of work done at the airport when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, he met and ongoing project and he was determined not to abandon it.

Akpabio disclosed that since the commencement of the inaugural flight on September 23 2009 till date, the statistics available shows that the Ibom airport has been rated as the most industry compliant airport as well as the fastest growing airport in the country since 1960.

According to him, so far a total number of 403, 663 passengers using about 7749 flights in and out of the airports have been recorded in the last two years of operation in the airport.

Akpabio stated that this modest success including the recent international flights that airlifted pilgrims to Israel, Rome and Greece were made possible with the use of the interim terminal building and that considering the number of passengers and flights the terminals have been overstretched and also have become inadequate.

He maintained that to further consolidate on the status of the airport and to attain the necessary NCAA and ICAO and other international regulatory standards that he has approved the commencement of the construction of the state of the art international terminal.

While commending the contractor for winning the bid Akpabio urged the company to continue with the standard of work it did in the first phase of the airport and put everything on ground to deliver this project within 24 months as agreed.

He warned that his government will not welcome any variation in bid price except if new facilities are to be added.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of ALCON Nig. Ltd, Mr. Gianfranco Falcioni assured the governor of his company’s readiness to complete the project on schedule even if it means working day and night thanking the state government for the confidence repose on his company for a second time.

Deep sea port and now international airport? Could this be the Southeast state and capital city to watch? Port Harcourt have been sleeping.

this is really good, I hope this works because it would do Nigeria a lot of good also the buiness oppurtunity and tinapa etc

very good move, about time

Honestly, Rivers state is just too dull!

Funny how Nigerians can be easily decieved with a single word "development". The airport project has been on-going since time immemorial. In 2007, i took intrest in the project, which was then scheduled to be commission later that year. From Nsit A tai LGA, i took time out to see what Ex-Gov. Attah termed as "The 8th wonders of the modern world" located at Uruan LGA. Low and behold, all i was able to see then was two trucks pretending to be working on a giant elephant shrubs. O ma se o!

My small potraits with one of the truck drivers still reminds me of the day i was about to see a replica of JFK international airport in Nigeria . 2012 we are still on award and signing of contracts. . . .I hope soon and very soooon!!

blog4all:

Akwa Ibom State government and Messrs ALCON Nigeria Limited Monday signed a contract of N18.05 billion for the construction of the international terminal of the Ibom International Airport.

Speaking during the contract signing ceremony at the Government House, Uyo, the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio said the ceremony was in line with his administration’s quest to continue the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom state particularly from being a pedestrian state into a destination state.

He said at the advent of his administration in 2007 that he promised the people that it was his commitment to complete the first phase of the airport. Saying that not minding the controversy that surrounded the percentage of work done at the airport when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, he met and ongoing project and he was determined not to abandon it.

Akpabio disclosed that since the commencement of the inaugural flight on September 23 2009 till date, the statistics available shows that the Ibom airport has been rated as the most industry compliant airport as well as the fastest growing airport in the country since 1960.

According to him, so far a total number of 403, 663 passengers using about 7749 flights in and out of the airports have been recorded in the last two years of operation in the airport.

Akpabio stated that this modest success including the recent international flights that airlifted pilgrims to Israel, Rome and Greece were made possible with the use of the interim terminal building and that considering the number of passengers and flights the terminals have been overstretched and also have become inadequate.

He maintained that to further consolidate on the status of the airport and to attain the necessary NCAA and ICAO and other international regulatory standards that he has approved the commencement of the construction of the state of the art international terminal.

While commending the contractor for winning the bid Akpabio urged the company to continue with the standard of work it did in the first phase of the airport and put everything on ground to deliver this project within 24 months as agreed.

He warned that his government will not welcome any variation in bid price except if new facilities are to be added.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of ALCON Nig. Ltd, Mr. Gianfranco Falcioni assured the governor of his company’s readiness to complete the project on schedule even if it means working day and night thanking the state government for the confidence repose on his company for a second time.

So, this so-called international terminal is going to gulp N18.5 BILLION

When did a terminal in an airport not approved as an International airport cost U.S. 125 MILLION?

So the so-called 400,000 passengers in and out of this "Busiest Airport since 1960" have brought tremendous development to this poor state right?

I wonder, the Asaba International Airport folks must do quick and find an Italian quack to award/split N 50 Billion to build a an Airport sign then.


Nonsense leaders and more nonsense mumu followers

The airport being completed is phases, already receives commercial flights. Still serval phases to go for completion. Akwa Ibom is approaching development from the right angle and am very impressed Godswill Akpabio visionary leadership.

Bliss4Lyfe:

The airport being completed is phases, already receives commercial flights. Still serval phases to go for completion. Akwa Ibom is approaching development from the right angle and am very impressed Godswill Akpabio visionary leadership.

You know the founding fathers and leaders prior to the arrival of Buhari and IBB developed the country with less funds and time and didnt engage in spin journalistic "phases".

Now every governor and even the Senator from Abia State, Uche CHukwum---, is promising airport this and airport that. BTW, what happened to that promise honorable senator?

Sounds like another wasteful way of extorting funds. How many people are gonna fly internationally to all these airports? Then from there enter the bad roads via Keke Mariwa?

Just like the Delta State Gov. Uduaghan commission the "completed" Asaba international airport by pulling a media stunt and risking the lives of pilots into landing in an uncompleted runways filled with red mud sand? You got jokes!