Airport Remodelling Excites Stakeholders

Aviation industry stakeholders say there are significant improvements in the sector after the Dana air disaster and the commencement of the remodelling of the airports as the Aviation Ministry has taken pragmatic steps to check reoccurrence.
Chief Kerian Oluocha made this assertion on Friday in a chat with Airport Correspondents shortly after the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mr. George Uriesi, commissioned projects embarked upon by the Management of Port Harcourt Airport.
Chief Kerian who is a landlord and contractor at the airport said the Dana Air disaster has challenged the federal authorities to pay attention to the industry to forestall future incidents and urged the regulatory authorities to be on their toes.
He expressed satisfaction with the leadership of the regional General Manager of the Port Harcourt International Airport Mrs Ebele Okoye for embarking on some measures that would improve the use of the airport by providing essential facilities like car park and conducive environment for staff to discharge their duties creditably.
Chief Oluocha who is the Oba 1 of Igwuruta also noted that the remodelling of the Port Harcourt Airport would enhance business operations and improve the status of Port Harcourt as the airport users would have a sense of belonging and called on FAAN to ensure proper supervision of the project to realise the vision of the project.
Chairman, League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) Port Harcourt Chapter Mr. Gilbert Amadi, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Aviation princess Stella Oduah for taking giant strides to reposition the sector.
Mr Amadi described the remodeling exercise in the nation’s airports as a welcome development but regretted that the project which started in 2011 at the Port Harcourt Airport is being over delayed and urged the minister to intervene to enable the contractor increase the pace of work.
He worried that if the contractor continues at the current pace, the project may not be accomplished till 2015 and advised the contractor to redouble his effort to ensure completion of the project in record time.
LAAC Chairman, noted that the temporary structures and arrangement put in place as alternatives are quiet inconveniencing to the airport users as well as staff, particularly at this rainy season.
“I regret the delay in the remodelling project at the Port Harcourt International Airport which started at the same time with others that are either completed or are at various stages of completion, the delay is affecting business operators, airline operators and airport users in several ways”, Mr. Amadi stated.
He, however, lauded the Regional manager for the facelift given to the airport in less than one year of her assumption of duty and enjoined her to carry all stakeholders in the Port Harcourt Airport community along.