Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has stated that the successful maiden international flight from Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo to Accra, Ghana, will significantly boost the state’s ambition to become a leading tourism destination in West, Central, and Southern Africa.
Speaking on Sunday shortly after returning from the historic flight to Accra, Governor Eno emphasized that the state is deliberately building a sustainable economy anchored on tourism through strategic aviation expansion.
“We are priming Akwa Ibom as the tourism hub of the region, accessible by air, land, and sea. We are meeting our benchmarks and targets, and we are confident we will achieve them. Today, we are strategically building an economy around tourism,” he said.
The governor noted that the new Accra route and other planned international connections will further strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position as a preferred destination of choice.
“This maiden flight and subsequent flights to designated destinations across West, Central, and Southern Africa will help position us as a destination of choice,” he added.
Governor Eno also highlighted the state’s investment in human capital to support its growing aviation and tourism ecosystem. He revealed that local professionals are being trained to meet the sector’s long-term manpower needs.
“Just this afternoon, we had the privilege of being flown by a co-pilot whom this state trained as part of the 20 pilots we sponsored in Toulouse,” he said.
He disclosed that the state has already trained 20 pilots and 20 engineers, while 10 more indigenes are currently studying at the Ethiopian Aviation University.
“20 pilots, 20 engineers, and currently 10 others at the Ethiopian Aeronautical University — all from Akwa Ibom State. This is to build capacity for the days and years ahead. We will continue to develop this human capital to meet our specific needs, not just for Ibom Air, but for the entire aviation and tourism ecosystem,” the governor stated.
Governor Eno also listed key infrastructure projects completed within the aviation sector to drive the state’s tourism goals. These include the new terminal hub, a second runway, expanded apron, aviation village, airport hospital, security surveillance systems, and perimeter fencing, among others.
“So far, we have completed 10 major projects within this aviation ecosystem. This is a promise I made, and by the grace of God, that promise has been fulfilled today,” he said.
He further praised the quality of the airport terminal, describing it as world-class.
“This terminal is, to say the least, one of the best of its kind anywhere. Someone recently told me that the ambience reminds him of the famed John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
We have spared no expense to make this terminal a true marvel of beauty, and we should all be very proud of ourselves as a people,” Governor Eno added.
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