PH Airport Central To Nigerian Economy-Nwuke

A Federal Lawmaker in the House of Representatives has described the Port Harcourt International Airport as central to the economy of the nation and gateway to some neigbouring States that should attract priority attention by government.

Hon Nwuke who represents Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency at the National Assembly stated this last Thursday in a chat with The Tide at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

He remarked that the government should realise the importance of Port Harcourt as the centre of oil and gas business in Nigeria and ensure that the on going remodeling project at the Port Harcourt International Airport gets adequate funding for early completion.

“There is a lot of pressure on the Port Harcourt Airport as it is now and our expectation is that the funds from the China visit should be used to complete the Port Harcourt International Airport becaue of its strategic importance to the nation,” he said.

The lawmaker hinted that the president’s recent visit to China was to secure loan that would be deployed to the modernization of the airports and other critical sectors.

Hon Nwuke lamented over the slow pace of work at the Port Harcourt airport while oil money from the area are being used to develop other airports in the country.

According to him, we do not agree with the slow pace of work at the Port Harcourt International Airport, but we want to see a more efficient airport which is under the exclusive list.

On the disagreement in the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB), particularly the 10 per cent for oil bearing communities, the lawmaker argued that those criticizing the provision for the communities does not understand what the people in these areas suffer for oil production.

He noted that the peoples means of livelihood does not exist anymore because land, water and the entire ecosystem had been polluted and destroyed by oil activities.

Hon Nwuke said the idea behind the PIB is to regulate and allow those that own the oil resource to cooperate with the system because “if we give them something to secure their approval and understanding to continue to exploit oil so be it.”

On the Academic Staff Union of Universities (Assu) strike, he urged the federal government to fund education properly, rather than multiply the number of tertiary institutions, adding however, that everything is not about money but how to manage things effectively.

The lawmaker therefore, called for quick resolution of the issues to enable students return back to school.