South East
Stakeholders Decry Sub-Standard Facilities At Airport
Stakeholders comprising airline operators, captains of industries, investors, security agencies, among others in the South- East geo political zone have expressed worry over lack of standard facilities at the Akanu Ibiam international airport, Enugu, saying the development has continued to affect the economy of the region.
They said the situation has over the years remained a serious obstacle to business growth in the zone, as it has forced scores of investors to relocate to other areas where its international airports are functioning optimally.
The stakeholders, however, appealed to the federal government and other relevant agencies in the aviation industry to look into the issue, especially the runway which they insist do not have the capacity to attract international airlines.
According to them, the situation has also been responsible for the poor patronage of the said airport by entrepreneurs from the Eastern part of Nigeria and pleaded with the federal government to come to the rescue of the airport.
They raised the concern weekend , in Enugu during a joint meeting with the Customs Area Controller in charge of Enugu/Anambra and Ebonyi command, Suleiman Mohammed held at the customs headquarters in Enugu.
In his remarks, Mohammed corroborated the complaints of the stakeholders, stressing that the attention of the federal government was urgently needed to redress the shortfalls at Akanu Ibiam international Airport, so as to enable it operate fully as an international airport like others in different parts of Nigeria.
He listed some of the key problems at the airport to include, lack of water, non-development of the cargo section into full capacity, poor state of the runway amongst others.
The Customs senior officer, hinted that except for the ‘Ethiopian Airlines, other international airlines such as Air France, KLM,have bluntly refused the plea to extend their flight schedules to Akanu Ibiam International airport because they cannot afford to risk their multi billion investment where facilities are lacking.
Mohammed stressed that a – 24 hour functional sources of water were needed at every airport to assist fire fighters at any moment there was emergency like fire outbreak at the airport, but regreted that the Akanu Ibiam international airport lacked water.
He disclosed that the Chief Executive of Triax Airlines,Prince Engr. Arthur Eze,has tabled the problems of Akanu Ibiam International airport to the Minister of Aviation,saying while they are expecting positive response, he deemed it fit to call for a stakeholders meeting,to discuss a way forward.
The Controller, noted that if the airport is fully operational, it would gingered economic growth in the South East zone of the country,and would enable his operational zone to meet up with their 2017 Revenue target of over ten billion naira.
“But as of now, the reverse is the case, as the command has only been able to achieve below five billion naira,barely four months to the end of the year.
“The 2017 Revenue target is Ten billion,Eight Hundred and Forty one million,Fourtenn thousand, three hundred and Eighty three Naira, fifty six kobo[N10,841,014,383.56]. Furthermore,the command has been able to generate a total of Four billion,Eight hundred and Ninety -five million,three hundred and Eleven thousand,Eight hundred and Five naira,seventy -seven kobo[N4,895,311,805,77] representing 45.3 percent of the total as at August,2017’
The Chief Executive Officer of Triax Airlines,who was represented by an Enugu based transport magnate chief Emeka Okeke, commended the initiators of the meeting, expressing the hope that the assurances from the Minister of Aviation, to give Akanu Ibiam International airport,the desired attention it deserves would come to reality.
Most of the stakeholders who spoke during the interface, had complained that many travelers from the South East zone,have also been compelled to stop usage of the airport because of the fact that the ‘Ethiopian airline,which is the only international airline operating from the airport due to the monopoly it enjoys, has drastically increased the cost of it’s flight ticket from Enugu with over Fifty thousand naira,even when Enugu to Addis Ababa is a shorter route than Lagos.
Canice Amadi, Enugu
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.