Akpabio tasks FG on aircraft hangar facilities
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State,
Governor. Godswill Akpabio has challenged the federal government to
collaborate with the State Government on its newly constructed
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar facilities in the state.
Akpabio stated that the purpose of
constructing the hangar facilities right from the outset was to serve as
a national hangar for both local and international carriers,
but lamented that the Federal Government through the Ministry of
Aviation had neglected the project for the state government alone to
handle.
Speaking with aviation correspondents
on arrival from the United Kingdom at the Murtala Mohammed Airport
(MMA), Lagos, Akpabio declared that the hangar was more than what a
state government alone could handle.
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Godswill Akpabio
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According to him, the involvement of the Federal Government in the hangar project would further create employment to Nigerians.
The governor who explained that the
state government was still looking for a credible private investor to
partner with in the maintenance of the facilities stated: “I think it is
time the Federal Government also shows interest. We are still looking
for foreign private partnership because the project is bigger than what a
state alone can carry and aviation industry is international. Even if
you have a big hangar that can carry the biggest plane in the world, if
you don’t have the skilled manpower, you can’t manage it effectively.
“No state can manage a hangar that
will be of international repute. That is why I said the Federal Ministry
of Aviation should show interest in the Akwa Ibom hangar project. It
was conceptualised from day one to be a national hangar. Even the
approval that was given by the then President, Late Alhaji Musa Ya’Adua
was for it to be a national hangar and now that we have taken it to this
level, I think the Federal Ministry of Aviation should come in and join
us so that truly we can have a national hangar and it will assists in
creating jobs for the Nigerian people.”
The MRO hangar facilities was recently
completed by the state government, but it is yet to be operational as
the state is still looking for foreign expert to partner with a credible
foreign organisation.
Akpabio had said that the usage of the
MRO facilities would further reduce capital flight out of the country
as both indigenous and foreign carriers would bring their aircraft to
the hangar for maintenance while it would further create jobs not only
for the people of the state but Nigerians in general.
He emphasised further that the MRO
facilities could also be used as Centre for Research and Rescue in case
of any eventuality and will be for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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