By Uko Etim, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom Government has declared its readiness to commence operation on the Maintenance, Repairs, and Overhaul (MRO) wing of the Victor Attah International Airport to boost the economy of the State.
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno disclosed this while leading the State Lawmakers on inspection of key projects at various stages of development across the state on Friday.
Newsnowng reports that projects visited were: the internal roads at the Dakkada luxury Estate and the operational perimeter road, the International Smart Terminal Building, the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and the Airport Medical Centre at the Victor Attah International Airport.
The Governor noted that the MRO has been on course since 2002 and assured of his administration’s resolve to ensure that it begins operation at full capacity to give the state the full gain it was intended.
“As I campaigned for governorship, we knew there were some projects that we must fine-tune for Akwa Ibom people to derive the full benefits.
“ It’s a relay race, people run and give you the baton to run the finishing line.
“I believe and hope that our team here will be the one to get to the finishing line and be part of the history that has already been made”, he stated.
While visiting the Dakkada Luxury Estate where he inspected the internal roads, Governor Eno lauded the level of progress at the site and commended the contractors for taking the projects so far despite not getting corresponding funding from the government.
The Governor therefore assured the contractors that state government will begin housing developments in the Estate by the end of January.
At the New Terminal Building, He acknowledged that there was a soft opening of the facility upon completion of the major construction works and remarked that it became expedient for the two arms of government to have a firsthand assessment to ascertain the finishing touches requirements to allow its full activation.
The governor who noted that the facility would be fully activated by April 2024, after being briefed by the contractor in charge, also pledged commitment to making funds available for the required fine-tuning.
“I had to come here personally with members of my Exco and members of the House of Assembly so that we can see things for ourselves and try to know where we direct funding. Yes, we had a soft opening and now there is still some work to be done. So we budgeted for it. Thankfully I came with the Honourable Speaker and leadership of the House.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Ottong, commended the Governor for running a transparent and open government, stressing that the monies appropriated for projects have been judiciously utilized.
The Speaker pledged the State legislature’s continued support to the executive towards the appropriation of funds to ensure the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.
Our Correspondent reports that the Governor was accompanied by his deputy Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, the State Chairman of PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan, some members of the State House of Assembly, and State Executive Council.
