By ETIM ETIM
The news that the Akwa Ibom State-owned Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA) would commence scheduled international flight operations effective April is pleasant in many ways. It is the first state-owned airport and the sixth of the 32 airports in the country to be so calibrated. The other five are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. The airport has made a meteoric progress in its 16-year history. Before it began operations in 2009. Before then, travelers relied on either Port Harcourt or Calabar airports. Since then, the government has made steady progress in aviation development. The state does not only own an airline, it’s also established an MRO facility and is completing a modern terminal building that will house the international operations. The government is also building a residential complex near the airport for the staffs. It is safe to assume that at this initial stage, VAIA would serve mostly African routes before intercontinental connections are established. This upgrade has many benefits to the state: job creation; tourism promotion; more airport revenue (IGR for government) and new investments. Very importantly, this would enhance the state’s profile as an aviation hub and tourism destination. Ibom Air should be well-positioned to be a major player in the international service.
The upgrade of the airport fits seamlessly into the tourism vision of the government. The plan is to position the state as a major destination for visitors seeking suitable facilities and ambience for conferences, meetings; retreats and even leisure. A big leisure park comprising a golf course, sports center, floating lounge and residential suites would be commissioned next quarter, while the iconic Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort is being renovated. Fully lit with over 150 solar lights, the course would offer the only night-time golfing in the country. A 5,000-capacity convention center is due for completion in 2026. Many fancy, privately-owned hotels are also springing up in Uyo to complement the three high-end government-owned facilities. Nigeria’s tourism industry is expected to contribute significantly the country’s GDP, with some projections suggest it could reach N7.2 trillion ($16.8 billion) by the end of 2025, creating over 2.5 million jobs.
Akwa Ibom has good road network, but the capital city requires further facelift in the area of metro transport. The tricycles should give way to bus service, especially on the four major roads. It is good enough that Gov. Eno has pledged to deliver CNG-powered buses for this purpose. The New Year will, no doubt, be exciting for tourism in the state.
ETIM ETIM is a veteran journalist and PR professional with over 35 years of cognate experience.
He is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Policy & Politics (www.policyandpolitics.com.ng), an online newspaper dedicated to insightful analysis of Nigerian news and world’s report. He is also a columnist with BusinessDay and The Cable and is a regular contributor to other newspapers.
Contact: +234802 3159969 (WhatsApp Only)
