GOV UGWUANYI INAUGURATES ACCESS ROAD TO NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT AT AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
REPORTER: OKECHUKWU EZEONA
Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to provide critical infrastructure to the benefit of all.
He gave the indication during the inauguration of access road to air navigation equipment site of the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
Inaugurating the project, Governor Ugwuanyi said that his administration undertook the redesign and reconstruction of the road to the location of the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range and Distance Measuring Equipment in Emene Enugu to complement the airport rehabilitation works by the Federal Hovernment and to enhance the safety of air travelers.
He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving and funding the rehabilitation of the airport, which was inaugurated and opened for flight operations in August 2020 after extensive repairs and upgrade of facilities.
He enjoined the end users, particularly Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as well as residents of Emene to take ownership of the new road and ensure its proper use.
“Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Chairman South East Governors Forum Committee on Rehabilitation and Palliative Works at Akanu Ibiam International Airport requested the state government’s intervention in the redesign and reconstruction of the 1.25 kilometers access aviation road to the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range and Distance Measuring Equipment and other metrological facilities of NAMA located at Emene to safe air navigation within our airspace,” he said.
In a remark, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Mr. Nnolim Nnaji, noting that Governor Ugwuanyi’s investment in the aviation industry was outstanding and commended the Governor for his commitment to the airport development and safety.
“Aviation is the gateway to the nation, most investors pass through the airport when they are coming for development. I’m happy that our Governor understood this very well by investing in the industry,” the lawmaker eulogized.
Also, the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu, applauded Governor Ugwuanyi for his remarkable contributions to the success story of the aviation sector in Nigeria.
The FAAN Managing Director, who presented A Safety Ambassador Award and Outstanding Promoter of Air Safety Award to the Governor on behalf of FAAN and NAMA, described him as a visionary leader with uncommon commitment to the industry.
The Enugu state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji, whose ministry supervised the project, noted that the road was in a very deplorable condition.
“What we did was to just to recreate this road, upgrade it, redesign it to this formation.
“Your excellency, we can’t thank you enough in partial intervention on this critical infrastructure of our dear nation,” the Commissioner stated.
There were goodwill messages from stakeholders in the aviation industry, including the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Enugu, Air Vice Marshall Frank Oparah; the Airspace Manager, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, Mr. Yohana Iliya Namo; and the Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum Rehabilitation and Palliative Works, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Mr. Chris Okoye.