Private investors take over Asaba International Airport as Delta govt adopts PPP
- The Asaba International Airport has been handed over to a company under a public-private partnership
- Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is of the opinion that the decision is an economic victory for the people of Delta state
- The company also promised that it will deploy its skills and experience to make the airport the best in the country
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The Delta state government on Tuesday, February 24 signed a 30 years agreement with the Asaba Airport Company Limited to manage the Asaba International Airport.
Speaking at the agreement-signing ceremony which was held at the Airport, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the decision to concession the facility was taken in the best interest of the people of the state
He stated that there was no way the state government could effectively manage and develop the airport without resorting to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Source: Twitter
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According to him, his administration chose concession as the most viable option for the airport to be run more professionally, efficiently, and profitably for the overall good of the state.
A statement sent to Legit.ng by the Delta state government quoted Governor Okowa as saying:
“With the successful signing of the agreement, it is the duty of the concessionaire to manage the airport and develop the various strategic business units in the form of; cargo business and the development of the cargo terminal; development of the logistics hub and cargo warehouses.
“The operation and management of the tank farm; the development and management of the business park; the development and management of the hotel and convention centre; an airline operating out of Asaba International Airport as an operational hub and an aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.”
Managing Director Asaba Airport Company Limited, Mr. Adebisi Adebutu assured the governor that his company will deploy their skills and experience to make the airport the best in the country.
He said the primary goal of the company was to introduce international cargo services through the construction of a modern international cargo terminal as well as the development of an airport hotel facility.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom state government says it is committed to the timely completion of the MRO facility at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.
The facility is expected to enhance the status of the airport as an internationally recognised gateway, with the government stating that it was fully aware of the strategic advantage it will accord the state and nation in the sub-Saharan aviation sector.
In a related development, Governor Udom Emmanuel has promised to transform Akwa Ibom state into an aviation hub in the West African sub-region.
He made the vow while announcing the arrival of the latest Bombardier CRJ900 recently acquired by the state-owned airline - Ibom Air last year.
Jerrywright Ukwu is a senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng based in Abuja. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also an active member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books.
Source: Legit.ng
