THE EXIT OF PRINCESS STELLA ADAEZE ODUAH- "THE NEED TO CELEBRATE A TRUE PATRIOT"

The curtains were drawn last week on what can be safely referred to as the "Golden Era" in the Aviation sector when the exit of the Honourable Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah was made public.

The Minister had for the past 5 months or so become a victim of high level intrigue orchestrated by "forces" within and outside the Aviation sector. The "stratagem plan" of these forces was to discredit the noble achievements of the Minister through a well funded media propaganda campaign.

ODUAH BOWS OUT, THANKS JONATHAN, NIGERIANS * URGES CONTINUITY OF TRANSFORMATION IN THE SECTOR

Immediate past MInister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, workers and Stakeholders in the aviation sector for the opportunity to serve the country and for the tremendous support given to her during her two and a half years' stewardship as Aviation Minister.

Oduah made the commendation shortly after officially handing over to the Surpervising Minister and current Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, JP.

" It was a great privilege to be chosen from amongst over 160 million Nigerians to serve in the Federal Cabinate. My profound gratitude goes to Mr President who provided me with this rare privilege. I also want to thank him for all the support he acorded me to pursue his Transformation Agenda in the Aviation Sector. I equally wish to thank my personal aides, aviator sector workers and stakeholders who partnered with me to realize our Vision and Mission in the sector", Oduah declared, continuing:

"During my tenure, we gave our best to institute reforms in line with Mr President's Transformation Agenda. We produced the Aviation sector Master plan and implementation Road Map. Using the Master Plan and Road Map, we were able to reconstruct and remodel all 22 federally-owned airports across the country. We also commenced the construction of five new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano.

"We also introduced the Perishable Cargo and Aerotrolis concepts to drive the growth and development of not only the aviation sector, but also the Nigerian economy. Construction of the cargo terminals has commenced across 16 airports across the country while modalities have been completed to kick-start the Aerotropolis project. We also carried out institutional reforms, built the capacity of NCAT to produce enough professionals both for the local aviation market and for export.

"My greatest satisfaction comes from our accomplishments in the area of safety and security of the Nigerian airspace. We were able to procure, update and install safety-critical infrastructure that has repositioned the sector to achieve our objective of zero-accident rate in the Nigerian airspace.

The former Minister said the reforms instituted during her tenure will no doubt propel the sector to greater accomplishments and expressed the hope that her successor will sustain the tempo and momentum of transformation in the interest of the sector, the air travelers and the Nigerian economy.

Joe Obi
Former SA (Media) to immediate past Minister of Aviation

Benue People Commend FG over Revamp of Markurdi Airport

A first class traditional ruler in Benue state, Ter Markurdi, HRH Sule Abega, has commended the Federal Government on behalf of the people of the state for rehabilitating the Markurdi airport which had been abandoned for years.

For many years flight had stopped operating into the airport but the present administration incorporated it into the remodeling programme and it is one of the 22 airports government is rehabilitating.

Chief Abega who paid courtesy call on the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah recently conveyed the message of the people of the state to the Minister.

Wind Shear Responsible for ADC, Sosoliso, Bellview Crashes

Bellview crash

The Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau and Prevention (AIBP), Captain Usman Muktar, has said that wind shear was responsible for the Sosoliso, ADC, Bellview and other accidents that happened in 2005 and 2006, aside human error.

Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere, which could spin an aircraft out of control.

Experts say it is dangerous for flights because it is highly turbulent and according to them the only way to prevent wind shear is to avoid it.

The AIB Commissioner disclosed that during the investigations on the causes of the accidents it was found that weather played key role in downing the aircraft which together killed over 400 people. Further investigation however narrowed the cause of the accidents down to wind shear.

 

 

Dana Air has added a Boeing 737-500 series aircraft, to boost its fleet and entire operations. With the additional aircraft coming into service, Dana Air will now operate an aircraft fleet comprising of the Boeing MD 83 series and Boeing 737 brand of aircraft.

$500m airport terminal buildings ready by Dec 2014

If everything goes as planned, Chinese Engineering and Construction Company is expected to complete construction work on the four new international airport terminals it is bankrolling in Nigeria by the end of December 2014.

Nigeria had secured a $500 million loan from the Chinese Exim Bank for the construction of the four new international airport terminals cited in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Construction work on the projects was ceded to the Chinese Engineering and Construction Company (CECC) and the job so far has advanced by about 40 per cent.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, who toured the cites recently expressed delight at the pace of the work by the contractors but insisted that more Nigerian employees be hired to create job and aid skills and technology transfer to indigenous workers.
“The process has been accelerated because we started on a very rough note,” Oduah told journalists in Port Harcourt.

Aviation ministry Targets N500bn Contribution To Nigeria’s GDP

The Aviation industry will in the near future contribute over N500 billion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually and support more than 200,000 jobs, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has said.

The Ministry also said it projects that the sector will contribute an additional N300 billion to the Nigerian economy directly and indirectly. This, it said, will come from additional investments, construction of the infrastructure and foreign direct investment inflows into the industry.

Stella Oduah, while speaking on the topic, “Understanding the Master Plan” in Lagos, said that there is also the forecast that by the time the Aerotropolis Project is completed, additional 80,000 – 100,000 job opportunities would have been created.

She added however that inability of Nigeria to reciprocate on its Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) rights, dominance of international carriers on regional and international routes to and from Nigeria, resulting in capital flight of about N300 billion annually among others, had debarred Nigeria from attaining its envious glory in aviation.

She also attributed part of the deep-rooted problems to leakages in revenue collection occasioned largely by manual collections.

“Stagnant aviation manpower development and human capital flight of indigenous aviation professionals and experts; inability to take advantage of the favourable geographical location and demographic advantages of Nigeria in the West African sub-region.

“Also, a total absence of maintenance and repair organisations (MROs) with the attendant drain on foreign exchange had been the bane of the sector,” she said.

Oduah added that with the prediction of giant aircraft manufacturers, Airbus, the sector must be repositioned to align with global developments.

“Airbus projects that the number of passengers will rise by 145 percent between 2007 and 2026 from 2.5 billion to 6 billion. Air transport will directly employ about 8.5 million people and contribute $1 trillion to world GDP.

“Aviation, its supply chain and the spending of employees in these businesses, will support 23 million jobs and $2.6 trillion of GDP. In relation to tourism, Aviation will sustain 50 million jobs and $3.6 trillion of GDP; even more when you consider the impact of other industries dependent on aviation that are harder to measure,” she assured.

 

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/02/aviation-ministry-targets-n500bn-contribution-to-nigerias-gdp/

 

Written By Sade Williams

 

FG Builds Largest Hajj Terminal At Sokoto Airport

 

THE Federal Government has commenced the construction of the largest Hajj terminal at Sokoto Airport.
Also, this is coming even as the government said the Yola airport terminal under construction when completed, would have the capacity to accommodate 1,000,000 passengers annually.
The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who made the declaration after inspecting the two airports, also directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to put the Yola airport facility to use.
She assured Nigerians that more terminals would be built, adding that her joy was that the Federal Government was able to complete Sokoto terminal within a very short period of time.
She added that the idea behind the reconstruction of the airport terminals was to reposition Nigeria’s aviation.
“We want to say to Nigerians that in aviation, there is more of this to come and we are not just focusing on the terminals, we are also focusing on ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation industry is repositioned. We are ensuring that we have aviation that we deserve and in doing so, we have the frontier ones, which you see like the terminals but there are many more that you do not see and that is the safety facilities and infrastructure, the power, the runway, the fencing and we are almost completing the fencing of this terminal.

 There are so many things that are going on simultaneously and this administration has graciously main streamed aviation in order to ensure that we remain pivotal in social and economic growth in our dear country”.
On the challenges encountered, she said that though there were challenges but that they were been tackled, adding that presently the focus was on Sokoto airport.
According to her, “We are tackling all the challenges, there are numerous challenges but today we are focusing on Sokoto airport. We are focusing on ensuring that we are able to construct the hajj terminal within a very short time. If you look at 40 metres from here, you will see what we are doing. We are going to have the largest hajj terminal in Nigeria situated in Sokoto airport, that is what this administration is doing.
Also speaking during the inspection,
the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, said that the Sokoto airport terminal had been completed, adding that it had the capacity for carrying 400,000 yearly from the present 45,000 to 50,000.
“We have completed the airport terminals, the remaining thing is to put the furniture inside it and it will start functioning. The airport has capacity for carrying about 400,000 passengers per annum as a smaller facility because right now, Sokoto airport is about 45,000 to 50,000 in a year. I think that we have another eight to 10 years before we expand this terminal but the real capacity is the hajj terminal, which they are just laying the foundation for. It is going to be the largest hajj terminal in the country and the most modern one when it is finished. We are trying to expedite that and I assure you it is going to be the largest terminal so far”, he added.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/business-package/2012-10-29-11-36-27/aviation/item/32679-fg-builds-largest-hajj-terminal-at-sokoto-airport.html

Perishable Cargo, Aerotropolis, key To Aviation Development – Oduah

 

The federal government said the ongoing development of perishable cargo and aerotropolis initiatives in the aviation sector remain a key component in the development of the sector in Nigeria.

Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah said the initiatives hold the brightest potential to bring about a bottom-up growth and development of the Nigerian society.Oduah, who spoke in Calabar during an inspection tour of the newly-remodeled Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, said the perishable cargo terminal at the airport would provide a platform for farmers in the state and the neighbouring communities to live a good life beyond mere survival or existence.
She said ‘’Cross River state is known for her agricultural produce ranging from pineapples, bananas, plantain, cocoa, yam, cassava, etc.
Today, much of what the farmers produce here is either grossly under-priced or rots away as a result of lack of local capacity to absorb the huge harvest. But with the perishable cargo taking off here in a matter of months, farmers will begin to secure real value for their hard work as their farm produce will find their way to the biggest cities and supermarkets not only in Nigeria but also in Europe and America’’
The minister added that ‘’The value chain that will result from this is also very immense, the industries that will spring up to service this terminal like the packaging companies, transportation hubs, as well as the grocery stores that will feed off this facility. Thousands of jobs will be created and the entire landscape of this wonderful city will be greatly enhanced; the possibilities are indeed endless’’

Read More: http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/perishable-cargo-aerotropolis-key-to-aviation-development-oduah/

 

 

NAMA Spends N200m To Calibrate Navaids In 26 Airports

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, says it spend at least N200m annually to calibrate navigational aids at 26 airports across the country.

This is as the agency also disclosed that it has commenced calibration of navigational equipment at some airports across the country to enhance air safety.
The Managing Director, NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, in a statement stated that the routine calibration exercise commenced at the Kebbi State-owned Birnin Kebbi airport where newly installed Doppler Very High Omnidirectional Radio Range, DVOR, Distance Measuring Equipment, DME, and Instrument Landing System, ILS, were commissioned.
Udoh stated that routine checks on VOR/DME equipment at Sokoto, Jos and Abuja are to be carried out by the technical team including the Precision Approach Path Indicator, PAPI, of the Abuja and Kaduna airports. The glide slope of Kaduna will be re-checked as well.
Also, he hinted that the newly installed Conventional VOR/ DME at Enugu airport will be commissioned soon while the VOR/DME at Owerri and ILS/ DME at Ilorin are for routine check.
He informed that a week exercise is being handled by a Dakar based Calibration firm, ASECNA.
Udoh added that the calibration of the navaids would assist in putting all the navigational aids in proper shape at these airports. IITA technologies help cassava farmers double yields (P34 2nd)
Meshack Idehen
Allied Atlantic Distilleries Limited has said that improved varieties and best-bet agronomic practices in the production of cassava, obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, and passed on to farmers have almost doubled the yield of the root crop, making it possible for farmers to supply more of this raw material to the industry than earlier expected.
The plant, commissioned last week in Lasada, Igbese community in Ogun State, the ethanol factory will produce nine million litres per annum of extra neutral alcohol, requiring approximately 250 tons of cassava per day.
Already over 8,000 farmers located within 70-km radius of Igbesa covering Ogun and Oyo states, southwest Nigeria, have been engaged and the factory is providing more than 40,000 indirect jobs to people in the area, Chairman of AADL, Mr. Ola Rosiji, said.

Read More: http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/nama-spends-n200m-to-calibrate-navaids-in-26-airports/

Written By OLUSEGUN KOIKI

Our Focus Is To Reposition Nigerian Aviation Industry, Says Oduah

Aviation Minister, Princes Stella Oduah, said at the weekend, that the focus of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was to reposition the aviation industry in the country to become a major player in the world.
This came as PDP Women Leader and a Former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, applauded the government for its efforts in the on-going remodelling of 22 airports across the country.
Speaking during a tour of some airports in the country, Princes Oduah affirmed that Nigerians deserved to have an aviation sector recognised across the world, noting that the sector was also a driver for economic growth.
She said it was necessary to take a tour of the airports to see the pace of work and prepare them for commissioning within the first quarter of the year, stressing that facilities at the various airports were upgraded for the comfort of Nigerians.
Princes Oduah said: “We want to say to Nigerians that in aviation, there are more of this to come and we are not just focusing on the terminals, we are also focusing on ensuring that Nigeria aviation industry is repositioned, we are ensuring that we have aviation that we deserved.
“In doing so, we have to put in place all the safety facilities and infrastructure, the power, the runway, the fencing and we are almost completing the fencing of this terminal in Sokoto airport, so there are so many things that are going on simultaneously and this administration has graciously mainstreamed aviation in order to ensure that it remains pivotal in social and economic growth in our dear country, so we are really grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Meanwhile, PDP Women Leader and a former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, applauded the Federal Government for its efforts in the on-going remodelling of 22 airports across the country.
Chikwe, who was also a former Nigerian ambassador to Ireland, noted that Nigerian airports had been in deplorable condition until the present government stepped in to reverse the trend through upgrade in facilities and airport re-modelling.
She said: “When I was the Minister of Aviation, there were so many competing needs as the country had just ushered in democratic governance and every sector was in dire need of attention, as military rule seemed to have neglected every aspect of the nation’s economy.”


Mrs Kema Chikwe - Former Min. of Aviation

Chikwe commended Princess Stella Oduah for the transformation of airports, describing her as a determined and hardworking woman who had shown dedication to duty.
She said the next step was for the private sector to move into the industry and develop it to grow to what was obtainable in the western world.
She, however, said it was the level of deterioration of airports infrastructure that prompted the Federal Government to take the revolutionary step of total overhaul of the facilities and improvement of security in the airspace, adding that President Jonathan wanted to carry out urgent intervention in order to salvage the industry.

 See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/focus-reposition-nigerian-aviation-industry-says-oduah/#sthash.H79GYVU2.dpuf


BY DANIEL ETEGHE
 

PERISHABLE CARGO, AEROTROPOLIS, THE FUTURE OF NIGERIAN AVIATION - ODUAH *As Sen. Henshaw hails transformation in aviation sector.

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has declared that the perishable cargo and aerotropolis initiative hold the key to the true development of the Nigerian Aviation sector. Oduah was speaking in Calabar weekend during an inspection tour of the newly-remodeled Chief Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar.

Aviation, the Minister contended, has the brightest potential, through the aerotropolis and perishable cargo programmes, to bring about a bottom-up growth and development of the Nigerian society. She said the perishable cargo terminal at the Calabar airport will provide a platform for farmers in the state and the neighbouring communities to live a good life beyond mere survival or existence. 

''Cross River state is known for her agricultural produce ranging from pineapples, bananas, plantain, cocoa, yam, cassava, etc. Today, much of what the farmers produce here is either grossly under-priced or rots away as a result of lack of local capacity to absorb the huge harvest. But with the perishable cargo taking off here in a matter of months, farmers will begin to secure real value for their hard work as their farm produce will find their way to the biggest cities and supermarkets not only in Nigeria but also in Europe and America'', Oduah declared, adding:

''The value chain that will result from this is also very immense. Just imagine the industries that will spring up to service this terminal like the packaging companies, transportation hubs, as well as the grocery stores that will feed off this facility. Thousands of jobs will be created and the entire landscape of this wonderful city will be greatly enhanced; the possibilities are indeed endless'', the Minister stated, and expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the airport.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw has hailed the on-going reconstruction and remodeling of the nation's airports, and expressed happiness that the Calabar airport is one of many in the country that has been totally transformed. Henshaw was speaking with Reporters who caught up with him at the airport during the inspection tour by the Minister.

The NDDC Chairman commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for giving the Minister all necessary support to carry out the reforms in the sector, adding that the people of the state and other Nigerians who pass through the new edifice will eternally remain indebted to his administration. He particularly commended the perishable cargo initiative, stressing that the day farmers in the state had been waiting for for decades to have full value for their crops has finally arrived.

 ''This singular initiative is bound to change the lives of our people in many more ways than anyone can imagine'', Henshaw stated, and alluded to the laudable pineapple produce initiative started by former state governor, Donald Duke which could not fully take off the ground due to lack of local and international markets for their produce. Today, I can assure you that pineapple farming will be fully resuscitated with the siting of the perishable cargo facility in this airport'', the former lawmaker concluded.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to Aviation Minister

EMIRATES AIRLINE COMMENCES OPERATIONS INTO ABUJA, KANO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Flowing from the approval granted to Emirates Airline by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the international Carrier has said it is set to enhance its operations to Nigeria by launching scheduled daily passenger flights to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. August 2014 has been set as the commencement date.

In a letter to the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah dated February 03, 2014 and signed by Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs, Emirates Airlines, the Carrier expressed gratitude to the federal government for the continued support and assistance extended to it throughout the period it has been operating in Nigeria.

 

The Senior Vice President disclosed that the flights will be operated ''in accordance with the existing UAE-Nigeria agreement on air services, with four weekly flights routed Dubai-Abuja-Kano-Dubai and three weekly flights routed Dubai-Kano-Abuja-Dubai, without carriage of domestic traffic (cabotage) between Abuja and Kano''.

 

Obaidalla further assured that Emirates Airline ''remains fully committed to the Nigerian market and to provide Nigerian travellers the best possible service''.

 

Commenting on the development, Oduah expressed joy that passengers from Abuja, Kano and other parts of the North who patronise Emirates would have the airline's services brought to their doorsteps, and pledged to continue to partner Emirates and other airlines to deliver the best possible service to air travellers in the country. ''I am particularly delighted with this development'', the Minister enthused.

 

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to Aviation Minister

NCAA Deploys 52 CPO Officers To Airports

Over 52 Consumer Protection Officers have been deployed across 10 major airports in Nigeria by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The officers were posted to these airports after successfully completing their On the Job Training called O
JT. They were deployed to join the plethora of officers already on ground the airports.

Airports that are involved in the exercise are Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Murtala Muhammed Airport 1 (Domestic), Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 (MMA 2) in Lagos.
Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Kaduna Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, Enugu International Airport, Gombe Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Ibadan Airport, Owerri Airport and Asaba Airport.

Fola Akinkuotu, NCAA director general, gave the directive for thorough training and mass posting of these officers to provide support to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

It is the belief of the NCAA that with the remodelling, there should be a corresponding increase in the number of CPD officers at the airports to attend to passenger complaints. Meanwhile, at a one–day awareness and sensitisation campaign at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja and Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, passengers were enlightened on issues relating to compesations.

The essence of the campaign drive was to adequately educate, inform and enlighten the flying public of their inherent rights and responsibilities and that of the airline operators.

“At the end of this campaign, which is directed at the expected escalated volume of passengers anticipated at our airports in this Yuletide season, passengers will be in a better position to know when to be compensated by any airline when there is a breach of trust,” Akinkuotu said.

However, to seek compensation, the awareness showed them the appropriate authorities and the steps to take to seek redress from any erring airline.

The exercise is also aimed at cargo consolidators, car hire operators and concessionaires to ensure that passengers get value for their money.

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/01/ncaa-deploys-52-cpo-officers-to-airports/

Nigerian Airports Record Growth In Cargo Movement

The recent designation of some airports as cargo airports by the Federal Government has led to a significant rise in cargo movement across the country.

A statement by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria obtained on Thursday noted that in the third quarter of 2013, for instance, a total of 52.5 million kilogrammes of cargo was carried through the airports.

This represents an increase of 20 per cent compared to 43.5 million kilogrammes carried in the third quarter of 2012.

It added that the concept of designating some of the airports as cargo airports was borne out of the need to facilitate the exportation of agricultural produce and other perishable goods, considering the high level of insecurity on the roads.

The statement added that there had also been an increase in mail movement across the country as more courier companies relied on air transport as a safer and faster means of transportation.

Figures by FAAN showed that a total of 1.71 billion kg of mails were carried in the third quarter of 2013 as against 1.13 million kg in the similar period of 2012.

The statement added that the aviation transformation was a key component of the Aviation Master Plan designed to modernise all the 22 airport terminals in the country.

Last year, FAAN had predicted that passenger number in the Murtala Muhammed Airport would hit 9.7 million by the year 2017.

The former Regional General Manager, South West, FAAN, Mr. Edward Olarerin, who said this, also predicted an increase in aircraft movement to over 130,000 in the same period.

He said, “Passengers’ number is expected to rise from 7.1 million to 9.7 million by the year 2017 while the number of aircraft movement is also expected to grow to 139,636 in 2017. Also, cargo forecast is expected to rise from 170 million kg in 2012 to 188 million kg in 2017.”

Olarerin said that from 5,117,034 passengers in 2008, the MMA processed a total of 7.2 million passengers in 2012 while aircraft movement rose from 84,198 in 2008 to 105,334 in 2012.

He explained that the same trend was replicated in cargo, adding that from a total of 164 million kg in 2008, freight rose to 170 million kg in 2012.

He declared that the MMA was expected to be a hub as the ongoing construction of transit facilities would have come on stream within the next five years.

 

http://www.punchng.com/business/industry/nigerian-airports-record-growth-in-cargo-movement/

 

Written by Udeme Ekwere

 

 

THERE WILL BE NO ABANDONED PROJECT UNDER MY WATCH – ODUAH

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has declared that there will be no abandoned project in the sector under her watch as Minister. Oduah was speaking at the Yola airport, weekend at the commencement of a two-day inspection tour of the remodelling projects in airports across the country.

Oduah, who decried the abandoned project syndrome in the Nigerian polity in the past, said President Jonathan and the leadership in the aviation sector is very committed to the full and timely completion of projects started in late 2011 under the Airport Remodelling Project initiative.
‘’When we came on board in 2011 and drew up our Master Plan and implementation Roadmap which had as its core components, the Airport Remodelling Project, we were charged by Mr President to ensure that we complete every project we embark on. We assured Mr President that we will see every project to its logical conclusion and we are committed to that promise.

"We are fortunate to have his full support and the support of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The result of that level of support is what you are seeing today. Not only have we completed, commissioned and put to use a lot of the remodelled airports, work on the remaining ones is at 95 per cent completion. So under my watch, no project we have commenced will be abandoned’’, the Minister assured.

She said the Yola airport is very important and critical to the successful implementation of the transformation programme in the aviation sector as one of the designated Perishable Cargo centres, and disclosed that the Cargo terminal would be completed in the second quarter of this year.

The Minster expressed happiness with the quality of work at the remodelled Yola airport, saying that when fully operational, the airport and its cargo facility will not only create thousands of jobs for the people of the state, but more importantly, empower the rural farmers whose fresh produce will have access to both local and international markets.

At the Sultan Abubakar 111 International Airport, Sokoto, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the remodelled airport, disclosing that government was constructing the biggest Pilgrim Terminal in the country at the airport. The terminal, whose construction has already commenced, has a capacity of about 5,000.

At assumption of duty as Minister in 2011, Oduah assembled a team of Experts to produce the Aviation Sector Master Plan and implementation Road Map. The airport remodelling project initiative is a core aspect of the Master Plan. 11 airports were taken in the First Phase of the remodelling programme. The second Phase took care of the remaining 11. Work on the 11 airports in the Second Phase is at 95 per cent completion.

Joe Obi
SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister