By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has inaugurated the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, (MRO) facility and a new Terminal Building at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.
The MRO facility, capable of maintaining two Boeing 747 aircrafts simultaneously is also said to be first of its kind, undertaken by any sub-national in Africa.
Commissioning the projects at the Victor Attah International Airport at the weekend, Saraki called for necessary support and timely approvals by the Federal Government to enable the facilities function effectively.
The former Kwara Governor commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his insight to further expand the airport development by introducing other innovations that would now make Akwa Ibom and by extension Nigeria, the hub in aircraft maintenance in Africa.
Addressing his guests, Emmanuel listed projects lined up for inauguration at the airport to include the new International Smart Terminal Building, the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul hanger, and the new Taxiway which would also serve as a second runway.
He said the projects, all, except the MRO, initiated and completed by his administration were part of his total approach to aviation development.
“This beautiful sight is part of our pledge to make Akwa Ibom a major aviation hub in the Gulf of Guinea, and we give God all the Glory.” The Governor said
Also speaking at the occasion, Former Governor Victor Attah who initiated the MRO facility project applauded the novel strides by Emmanuel, saying his innovative projects in the aviation sector would yield foreign earnings for Akwa Ibom.
Attah also commended the Governor’s wisdom to introduce twenty first century facilities that would further distinguish Akwa Ibom as a destination in the aviation industry globally.
Referring to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility for instance, the former governor said the MRO, capable of servicing two Boeing 747 aircrafts at the same time, was the first aircraft maintenance facility to be conceived in Africa, saying it would now attract traffic in the aviation industry to the state.
