•President inaugurates $600m new terminal in P’Harcourt
•Wike: Rivers safe for business
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday adduced reasons why the Federal Government is building four new international terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.
The government, he said, is building the airports with a view to modernising their infrastructure, maintaining the global aviation standard and improving service delivery in tandem with international best practices.
Buhari spoke while inaugurating the $600 million dollars new international terminal at the Port Harcourt International Airport funded by the Export-Import Bank of China and the Nigerian Government.
The terminal was constructed by China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC). The company is also constructing new terminals in Abuja, Kano and Lagos International Airports.
The colourful event was attended by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike; Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika; former Rivers State Governor Sir Celestine Omehia; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Uguru Usani; his counterpart in Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
Others were Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East); Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast); the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Pastor Tonye Cole; and his running mate, Chief Victor Giadom; APC Chairman Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; Nigeria’s Ambassador to The Netherlands Oji Ngofa, who is APC’s senatorial candidate for Rivers Southeast for 2019 election; and Chairman of Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja; among other eminent personalities.
Buhari, who visited the state for the first time since his inauguration on May 29, 2015, got to the arena at 12:34p.m. in an unmarked black Mercedes Benz saloon car, with golden coats of arms in front and at the back.
The President expressed confidence that the new terminal would help to enhance the economic activities in the state and hailed the Rivers people for their patience during the construction period.
Buhari said the new international terminal would address the increasing international air travel needs of the country, adding that the increase in population had also added impetus.
According to him, since the existing terminals in all the major airports in the country were opened in late 1970s and early 1980s, not much had been done to increase their handling capacities by successive administrations
The president said the completion of the project was in line with his administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects initiated by his predecessors in the transport sector.
“I am very pleased to formally commission the new international terminal of the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa today.
“This ceremony represents a significant landmark for international air travellers, especially from the Southsouth region and the entire country.
“You will recall that after the opening of the major airport terminals in the country in the late 70s and early 1980s, not too much was added to increase the passenger handling capacity by successive administrations.
“Following the large increase in the number of passengers and air passenger travel, the terminal became grossly inadequate to cater for the increasing passenger travel.
“Although, palliative measures were periodically carried out on facilities to repair the wear and tear.
“The Federal Government is responding to global trend of which aviation has become a catalyst for economic growth and facilitates the movement of persons,” he said.
Buhari hailed the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, particularly aviation, the Chinese government and the China Exim Bank for their financial support and the various roles they played leading to the successful completion of the project.
He also lauded the contractor, Messrs CCECC, for the timely service delivery.
Wike said his people and the entire Niger Delta region were happy that the project was completed and inaugurated.
The governor said: “Before I came here, I wanted to make a request, but before I did it, the Minister of State for Aviation had taken the word from my mouth. He said Mr. President had directed him to make sure that the domestic wing of Port Harcourt International Airport would be commissioned in December this year. I hope that my friend, Senator Hadi Sirika, will keep to it, so that the people of Rivers State and the people of Niger Delta will continue to be happy with President Buhari.
“Mr. President, what has happened today is a clear statement that Rivers State is safe and secure, for people to come and invest. I urge all of us, who are from Rivers State and who are from Nigeria, to market Rivers State well and not to de-market our state.”
He said the state government was ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop transport infrastructure.
Wike hailed the Federal Government for the completion of the new terminal building.
Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika said the project was executed in partnership with the Chinese Government with $500 million dollars loan from Chinese Exim Bank and 100 million dollars counterpart funding from the Nigerian government.
Sirika said the airport had the capacity to process seven million passengers annually, bigger than what Ghana could process annually.
He said the project was initially expected to be delivered within a period of two years, adding that as at the time the present administration came on board, the level of work was below 30 per cent.
He added that the project was also bedeviled with various technical challenges, which included foundation design change, inaccessibility to apron, inadequate apron, masterplan distortion, water and sewage provision, litigation and inadequate power supply.
According to him, the administration has achieved a milestone in the implementation of its aviation road map.