Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has said his administration has spent N1.2 billion to train the second batch of indigenous pilots and engineers to run the state-owned Ibom Airline.
Emmanuel made this known yesterday during an interaction with reporters in Uyo as part of activities to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.
He said the first batch of trainees was already undertaking the training meant to provide the needed technical personnel in Nigeria’s flagship Airline Ibom Air.
The governor said the training was in sync with his administration’s policy, a renewed move to reposition and increase the capacity of the state- owned airline, Ibom Air.
Emmanuel, who expressed joy at the strides of the airline within a short time, said the MRO facility at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo would be ready before the end of the year and would make the state the aviation hub of the Southsouth.
He said the inability of the airline to acquire more aircraft was due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as most financial systems were linked to Russia, with the former Soviet Republic, however, facing business and political sanctions and restrictions from many countries.