The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has commended the pace of work at the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA), stating that the state is on course ahead of the planned commencement of international flight operations.
Eno gave the commendation when speaking with Government House correspondents after a review meeting and inspection of the airport’s new terminal building.
The governor said his administration is taking all necessary steps to ensure that critical requirements set by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) are fully met before international operations begin.
He praised the project handlers for the progress recorded so far, while also noting that a few gaps have been identified and are being urgently addressed to speed up completion.
“My assessment is that work is ongoing. To open an airport, every detail must be in place, and that is exactly what we are doing. As you can see, progress is steady, and the identified gaps are being closed,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that some equipment needed for the project is being sourced from abroad, which has led to minor delays due to various factors.
However, he maintained that the overall timeline remains on track.
Eno also urged the Managing Director of Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi, and his team to leverage their industry experience to support the realization of the administration’s vision of transforming VAIA into a regional aviation hub for the benefit of the state.
