ASABA INT’L AIRPORT WILL COMPETE WITH OTHER KNOWN STANDARD AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD - Former President Obasanjo
Any moment from now, Asaba International Airport will continue
to compete with other known standard Airports in the world considering an
opportunity to accommodate all types of planes.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo indicated this Thursday
evening judging from the spate of expansion work currently going on at the
airport.
While expressing satisfaction, the ex-President, who was on
transit from the neighbouring Anambra State stopped-over at the airport and was
accorded an reception ceremony by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi
Okowa, and attested to the strategic position of the airport.
According to President Obasanjo, completing the airport would
herald socio-economic benefits to the host state and other neighboring states
like Anambra state which harbours Onitsha International Market.
This may not be unconnected with the determination of Governor
Okowa administration’s bold steps to restore the lost glory of the airport after
the Federal Government had downgraded the airport over poor operational /
technical values and banned big aircraft from patronizing the airport.
Inspecting the progress of work thereafter, Governor Okowa said
the State has been working assiduously to meet the standard of the Federal
Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He said explained that the initial challenges faced by the
contractor handling the project has been surmounted and stated that the project
would be completed within the next few months.
“I can see that work is going on at the new runway and
taxiway. When completed, it will take all sizes of planes because, this airport
is well positioned to serve the people of the state, the entire South-South and
South-East regions, especially businessmen in Onitsha and Nnewi.”
“You can see that work is going on, the contractor had
some issues which have been sorted out. We are expecting that at the end of
March, substantial work would have been done and we will be back for another
round of inspection in the next two weeks”, he added.
The Chairman of the contracting firm, handling the project,
Ogbueshi Uche Okpuno, who, took the Governor round the project after receiving
the former President, further explained that work has advanced in the
construction of the taxiway while issues raised by the FAAN, which led to its
down-grade last year were been addressed.
He was optimistic that the use of the Airport by the
ex-President had underscored the strategic nature of the airport and justify
the huge financial investment the state had expended to ensure that the
facility meets international standards for all levels of aircrafts.
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