By Obinna Uballa
Air travellers to and from Akwa Ibom State can now fly at night through the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, following the completion of an overhaul of its airfield lighting and navigational aids.
Governor Umo Eno, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, expressed delight at the restoration of full operations at the airport after months of sunrise-to-sunset restrictions.
The governor had earlier given the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Airport Development Company, Uwem Ekanem, and the board of the agency a September 30 deadline to ensure the lighting system was restored.
“His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D, is pleased and congratulates the MD/CEO, Mr Uwem Ekanem, the staff, and the Board for rising to the occasion and getting the job done within the specified timeline,” the statement read.
“With the successful calibration and overhaul of the navigational aids and the restoration of the lighting systems at the Victor Attah International Airport, the sunrise-to-sunset restrictions previously imposed have been lifted. Night flight operations have been restored with immediate effect.”
Governor Eno commended the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for its role in the exercise and assured that his administration would continue to invest in aviation infrastructure, including the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and the new international terminal, ahead of the busy festive season.
He noted that the return of night flights will boost Ibom Air’s operations and strengthen the state’s tourism drive under the ARISE Agenda.
“Tourism remains a major plank of the Arise Agenda, and with the planned commissioning of the Arise Resorts in December, alongside other ongoing works within the tourism sector, the restoration of night flight operations will ensure unhindered air travel by tourists and visitors into Akwa Ibom,” the statement added.
