Elder Statesman Commends Akwa Ibom on Airport Terminal, Urges Completion of MRO Facility

By Sammy Etuk Jnr

An elder statesman, Otuekong Sonny Jackson Udoh, has commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for completing the international terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, describing it as a landmark achievement worthy of national recognition.

Otuekong Udoh, who recently returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, said he was astonished by the quality of the terminal, adding that it compares favourably with modern airport terminals around the world and is far better than the international terminals at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

“I was amazed when I arrived and had to ask someone, ‘Are we really in Uyo?’ This is not an exaggeration. The government deserves commendation for ensuring the completion of the airport terminal. In my view, the Victor Attah International Airport terminal compares favourably with modern airport terminals around the world and is far better than the international terminals at the Lagos and Abuja airports,” he said.

He commended former Governors Obong Victor Attah and Mr. Udom Emmanuel for initiating and sustaining the project, while praising Governor Pastor Umo Eno for bringing it to completion.

“Government is a continuum. Governor Umo Eno deserves commendation for completing the project instead of abandoning it to embark on new ones while this remained unfinished,” he said.

The elder statesman also appealed to Governor Umo Eno not to abandon the proposed Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport, describing it as a strategic investment capable of transforming Akwa Ibom into the leading aviation maintenance hub in West Africa.

The highly respected industrialist said there is no fully developed MRO facility of comparable standard in the West African sub-region and that its completion would attract aircraft from across West Africa and beyond for maintenance, generate substantial revenue for the state, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and stimulate investments in aviation and related industries.

Otuekong Udoh further advised the state government to engage a reputable and internationally accomplished aviation facility management company to maintain the airport terminal and its equipment, warning that Nigeria’s poor maintenance culture has led to the deterioration of many public infrastructure projects. He stressed that regular professional maintenance would preserve the world-class standard of the terminal and ensure that it continues to serve travellers efficiently for many years.

He further advised the state government to intensify efforts to address flooding in Uyo by developing a major retention basin or an artificial lake into which stormwater from across the city could be channelled.

“I believe the flooding problem in Uyo is not caused by inadequate drainage alone. Any drainage system without a final discharge point will eventually become overwhelmed. Abuja provides a good example, where runoff from the city is channelled into Jabi Lake. Apart from solving a drainage problem, it has also enhanced the beauty of the environment,” he said.

He also cautioned the government over the Arise Housing Scheme, noting that parts of the proposed development are located on low-lying land. The Chairman of Jackson Devos maintained that, because of the nature of the terrain, the government should complete the necessary sand-filling of the estate and provide an effective drainage system before beneficiaries start developing their properties, adding that this would guard against future flooding, similar to what has been witnessed in some other housing estates in the state.

“The government should complete the necessary sand-filling of the estate because of the terrain and provide a proper drainage system before owners of the plots begin developing their properties. If you don’t prepare for flooding, you will certainly be flooded. The consequences are damage to property and, in some cases, loss of lives,” he added.