A former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has advised the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Management not to embark on the construction of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) project but to patronise the existing facility built at the Victor Attah Airport, Uyo, AkwaIbom State.
Essien gave the advise in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to a news report published in some national dailies that the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Airspace Development had concluded arrangements to commence the construction of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft in Nigeria at an unnamed location.
The former Minister said embarking on a new project when there is an existing facility that can serve the same approve calls to question government’s attitude and intention towards development programmes. Essien said that the MRO project in Alwa Ibom airport has been on for over 15 years and ihad reached about ninety five per cent (95%) completion level.
It would be recalled that in November 2023, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management , Chief Festus Keyamo visited Akwa Ibom State and after being conducted round the terminal building,the MRO and the 3.6km taxiway (also called the second runway), he was quoted to have said that “ Akwa Ibom State is Nigeria’s best kept secret “.During that visit, Keyamo was said to had poured encomiums on the successive governments of Akwa Ibom State and the State’s effort in developing the aviation sector.
According to Essien, Keyamo also promised that the federal government would partner the State in its aviation development programmes.
“This ‘best kept secret’ borrowing the phrase of Festus Keyamo, is even more pronounced in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility of the airport .
It is therefore surprising and most inconsistent for the same Minister, a year later, to propose a new MRO under a PPP arrangement,” he said
The former Minister said that if he Minister is thinking of an MRO project, he should explore more viable options and build upon alternatives that would promptly deliver expected outcomes, with ease, to the benefit of the country.
“The obvious alternative would be for the Federal government to embrace the MRO project in AKWA Ibom State; direct the Private Partner to utilize the nearly completed facilities at Obong Atta International Airport at Uyo. It is doubtful if more than one MRO could be viable in the country for now.
“It is even more worrisome that this is happening despite the State Governor’s glaring show of support and willingness to cooperate with the Federal Government; a governor despite being in an opposition party, has brought down partisan walls for seamless partnership with all layers of government for the nation’s economic growth.
“It does appears that once any viable investment initiative springs up in Akwa Ibom, efforts are generated to either diminish its potentials or thwart its fruition. In these days of extreme hardship and anxiety to get Nigeria working again, every organ of government and functionaries in government should work together to bring Nigeria out of the woods,” Essien said.