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On Monday, Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, took an important step forward in the development of the state’s aviation infrastructure by laying the first stone for the Aviation Village. The project aims to build a purpose-driven residential community for airport workers.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aviation Village, located within the Victor Attah International Airport, Governor Umo Eno spoke passionately about the project’s significance, noting that it was conceived as part of his vision to propel Akwa Ibom into the spotlight as the aviation hub of the Gulf of Guinea. He shared that the initiative reflects his strong desire to create a robust and expansive aviation ecosystem
He said, “The Aviation Village, which is the groundbreaking ceremony we have gathered here to perform, is a project that speaks to our passionate dedication to the expansion of the aviation ecosystem.
“It is going to provide residential quarters for workers in the first phase, which will further drive our vision of becoming the nation’s major aviation hub.
“The second phase will have the aviation school and other facilities, but let’s provide these accommodations for the workers close to their offices. From our findings, twelve parastatals would benefit, and this will have a direct impact on the operations of the airport.”
Governor Umo Eno further stated that the Aviation Village project, which is slated for completion within the next twelve months, will be executed in phases by multiple contractors. This approach, he explained, is designed to expedite the construction process, with the initial phase focusing on the perimeter fence and gatehouse
In addition, the Governor outlined plans to break ground for the creation of an Elderly People’s Home and a new Medical Village intended to cater to the needs of the healthcare professionals at Ibom Specialist Hospital. He emphasized that these developments are essential to realizing the hospital’s future potential, especially in its collaboration with international technical partners, as initially envisioned.
He added, “There are some more flag-offs that we will do. I am looking forward to flagging off the elderly people’s homes. I am looking forward to flagging off the new medical village, and we will build the Doctors’ quarters there, too. What we are trying to do is to upgrade the Ibom Specialist Hospital and make it what it was conceived to be: a proper first-rate hospital.
“We are partnering with international organisations, employing the doctors who will run the facility, and providing accommodations for those doctors. We will run that facility in the model of Ibom Air, a government facility that is managed as a private concern.”
Read also: Akwa Ibom Mourns As First Lady Patience Umo Eno Dies
On the topic of the recent leadership overhaul at Ibom Power Company, Governor Eno revealed that the objective was to place the company on a firmer footing for the future. He also took the opportunity to challenge the heads of other government departments and parastatals, encouraging them to uphold the values of integrity while also focusing on the profitability and financial health of their respective institutions.
He appreciated the airport staff for their support and dedication to duty, assuring that contrary to agitations, his government would pay all their emoluments to underscore his worker-friendly disposition.
The state Commissioner for Housing, Otuekong Bassey, in his review of the project, indicated that the Aviation Village project sits on 15.072 hectares of land and would have a total of 62 number of two bedroom flats, 55 number of three bedroom flats, a primary school and other facilities.
While analyzing the significance of the Aviation Village project, Iniobong Essien, Chairman of the Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, stressed its transformative impact.
He explained that the initiative would not only uplift the standards of the airport, aligning it with global industry norms, but also strategically position the Victor Attah International Airport to seamlessly integrate into international aviation networks, anticipating an expanded scope of operations.
Captain Mfon Udom, CEO of Ibom Air, Comrade Ukeme Utuk, representing the National Union of Air Transport Employees, and other influential stakeholders, in their messages of goodwill, all acknowledged the profound impact of the Aviation Village project.
They emphasized that the initiative would address the pressing issue of housing for airport staff, offering them the benefit of being stationed closer to the airport, which would undoubtedly enhance the speed and efficiency of service delivery in the aviation sector.
