By Anietie Akpan
Victor Attah International Airport has gone a step further towards achieving its international flights operations goal with the delivery of two Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs), at the new smart terminal building.
It is expected that the airport will commence international flights operations first week of April.
A statement the Governor’s Office MtwoMedia Unit, stated that the two extra long bridges moving at a snail speed of 25km/hr arrived the airport by midday on Monday, three days after leaving the Onne Port in River State.
Lighter components of the two Bridges which left Friday evening had earlier arrived on Saturday as the Akwa Ibom State Government’s aviation development plan gains momentum.
Officials, including the State Commissioner for Finance and Special Duties, Emem Bob, and the Chairman of VKS Construction Ltd, Engr. Oliver Ebong, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Dr. Essien Ndueso, were on ground to witness the arrival of the equipment.
The State Commissioner for Finance and supervisory Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Emem Bob, said the Governor is committed to delivering an efficient, world-class airport and is working to ensure the facility becomes fully operational by the first week of April.
He commended Governor Eno for his sustained efforts to finalize the operations at the airport and position Akwa Ibom State as a regional and international aviation hub.
“Our Governor is renowned as the Governor with the finisher’s annointing, and he is showing that in the completion of this airport.
“The project is totally funded by the state government and the Governor has not borrowed any money in projects he is executing across the State.”
On his part, Engr. Oliver Ebong who was excited with the safe arrival of the components said he was excited to be considered by the Akwa Ibom State Government for such an ambitious project.
He stated that VKS Construction Ltd is confident the terminal will be fully ready for use by the end of March, ahead of the April deadline.
Conducting journalists around the terminal building, Chief Ebong said the terminal facility was the first of its kind in the country with the most sophisticated ICT, electricity supply, and security technology.
“Some of these equipment have never been brought into the country hence it was difficult to appropriately label them during transit. But we are happy that they have safely arrived”, Engr. Ebong said.
