Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport is ready and will be commissioned in the second week of May, stating that the idea behind the project was to connect the State to the rest of the world and boost her economy, according to the statement signed by his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma described the Imo International Cargo Airport as the largest in the country, adding that the feat was an indelible achievement of Governor Okorocha’s administration to the growth of Aviation in the State.
The governor had met with the Director of Commercial and Development of FAAN, Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi and his entourage at the Government House Owerri on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 where he presented a letter from the MD/CE to the governor.
The governor continued “I want to thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for giving us the permission to build this International Tarmac for the take-off of the International Cargo Airport which will enable goods to come from all parts of this world into Imo State and will equally help us take our agric products from this country to the rest of the world”.
According to the governor “The idea of building the International Cargo Airport is to connect Imo State to the rest of the world. We are happy that this project has become a reality and we are waiting for the kind approval of the President to commission the project. When fully commissioned, it will increase and improve the commercial and economic activities of the people here”.
He added “This is the biggest Cargo Airport in Nigeria and I am happy you have confirmed it. We are very happy to handover this legacy to the incoming government and our generation yet unborn. Imo State government will extend the existing runway as you requested to enable the boeing 737 and other big Cargo aircrafts to land safely”.
His words “Most of the big importers in Nigeria come from the South-East and so this will help them in their businesses greatly. We are happy that this project has become a reality and we are hoping that in the next 10 days, this project will be commissioned and be made for public use”.
The governor remarked “As for today, the most important thing is that Cargo Planes can land and take-off from Imo and this gladdens our hearts. International Cargo Airport is a federal government project fully sponsored by Imo State government with the kind permission of the Presidency”.
In the letter to the governor the MD said that the governor’s contribution towards the development of the largest Cargo Terminal and warehouses will accelerate the economic development of Imo State and by extension, Nigeria.
In his speech, while presenting the MD’s letter to the governor, Mr. Rafindadi Stated, “We thank you for your vision and leadership to construct an International Cargo Airport for your people. You started it from day one and thank God that today, it is now completed and ready for commission. We have come to thank you for this vision and to tell you that this is not only for the people of Imo State but for the whole Nigeria. This project will bring a lot of revenue to FAAN, Imo State government and Nigeria as a whole.
source:toptipz.com.ng
