Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says that his administration is not just partnering with the Federal Government to build an Airport but an Airport City that will have hotels and other things.
Governor Otti stated this while receiving in audience a delegation of the Skymaster Services Group, a private aviation company with a proposal to partner Abia State Government in providing aviation services in the ongoing Abia airport city project.
The Governor, while noting that the construction of the Abia Airport runway is progressing, restated the resolve of his Government to build an international Airport that all well-meaning Abians and Nigerians would be proud of.
Governor Otti, while noting that most services the company intends to offer are already incorporated in the plan of the Abia Airport City, adding that the State Government’s technical team will further engage them to deepen discussions on some technical areas contained in their presentation.
“It’s good to listen to you and appreciate what value you can bring to the airport project, which we have started. I believe that from the report I got yesterday, the work on the runway is progressing very well.
“Some of the things you said are actually already incorporated in the airport plan. So, we are not just doing an airport, we are doing an airport city. So, there will be hotels there and other things.
“The whole idea is that we have seen some airports in the country that are just standing alone. So, it’s a great disadvantage to an airport when it’s just stocked up alone. We have a more comprehensive idea about what the airport should be.
“I would just like to say, thank you for coming on time. This is the best time because we are still at the early stages, so, we can incorporate some of the ideas that you have shared with us,” Governor Otti, stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Skymaster Services Group, Mr. Princewill Ogbonna, who said that the company is at present providing aviation services and other aviation related operations in Port Harcourt and Lagos States respectively, saying that the company is equally providing similar operations to Airports in Milan, Italy.
He explained that the visit is in line with the company’s plans to partner with the State Government in providing Air services, including domestic services at the new Abia Airport.
“We are building the market, we are building the traffic to be able to support what we do here in Abia State. It’s going to be a busy Airport. We want to partner with the State to turn the Airport to a hub and see where we go from here.
“By the time the airport is ready, we are not going to go into the market to start telling people that this is the right place to go,” Ogbonna stated.
The Skymaster Services Group commended Governor Otti for the good works he is doing in the State, narrating how smooth their journey was because of the good road network done by the Governor.
He equally thanked the Governor for granting them audience to see and discuss with him.
The Governor was joined in the meeting by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, the Senior Special Assistant on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe, Special Assistant on Lands, Pastor Okorougo Aji, and the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Charles Egonye.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State Government House, Umuahia
11 – 07 – 2025.
