Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state said the state will soon attract international flight operations into the Ibom airport when his government complete some ongoing projects.
He said parts of the projects include the completion of the Ibom international airport runway and the construction of its proposed Maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) facility in the state.
Governor Akpabio spoke at a forum organised by engineers in the aviation sector in Uyo.
The state governor, represented by the state commissioner for transportation Godwin Ntukude described the airport as a world class facility designed to accommodate wide bodied aircraft.
Akpabio disclosed that his government has trained over four hundred engineers and pilots working all over the country and said they will be encourage to return home to contribute to the development of aviation sector in the state.
He said the state has completed plans to construct the MRO facility without help from the federal
government but said it will collaborate on security.
He said work will soon commence on the MRO given the enabling environment.
Leader of the engineers, Isaac Balami said aircraft maintenance remains one of the most costly items on the budget of an airline which required up to 15 to 40% of annual expenditure and depending on the fleet type and operating model.
He stressed that the facilities at the Ibom airport be completed and put into use in view of the emerging airlines in the country.
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