Asaba Airport ready for regional, international flights – Delta Govt By Felix Igbekoyi/Asaba Delta State on Monday confirmed that the Asaba International Airport is ready for both regional and international flights. The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Finance, Chief Kennet Okpara during the inspection tour to completed and ongoing projects of the state government, saying it was a misconception by those who do not know anything about the workings of airport to say the non completion of the runway informs why international flight cannot take place at the airport. Some of the projects visited include; the Asaba International Airport, the 150 Housing units, sector C of the Asaba/Ughelli dualisation road project, Mariam Babangida Women Development Centre, Head of Service Building and the House of Assembly administrative/Library complex. Flanked by Mr Austin Aiyemidejor, Project Director, Asaba International Airport, he said it was a wrong impression on the airport which operation on the run way commenced since 2011 apart from the filling and small repair works that are going on the runway, commending the contractors handling the project for the level and quality of work being done, particularly cutting down the hills which was said to have attained 55 percent completion. According to him, the airport has three completed taxi ways and that major airline operators and the authorities involved have been contacted on the development and that their response have been very positive and encouraging, which to him informed that assurance that Delta pilgrims would be airlifted from the airport this year. On the regional flight resulting from the understanding of the South South states that makes up the BRACE Commission, he said apart from the discussion they have with the airline operators, the short distance, he disclosed that the management of the airport would arrange a proposal to further facilitate the take off of the demand. Okpara claimed the frequent and physical inspection is necessary in order for the state government to know that the projects they are paying for is real, due process followed, transparency and facilitate part of its budget implementation verification exercise aimed at ensuring accountability. At the Mariam Babangida Women Development Centre, he lauded the pace of work and quality of material used at the centre as well as that of the House of Assembly administrative/Library complex just as he urged the contractors to deliver the project in record time. Conducting him round the on-going Housing Project, Chief Akpeki said that the 150 Houses, comprising; 50 One Bedroom flat, 50 Two Bedroom Flat and 50 Three Bedroom flat would be delivered within the next six months. However, at the on-going Head of Service Office building, Chief Akpeki while decrying the attitude of the contractor handling the project whom he said demobilized from site agitating for upward review of the project contract sum, said, “This is the only project hanging vertically on my throat as nearly all the projects I inherited have been completed”. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Betty Efekhoda who earlier conducted the Finance and Economic Commissioner round the On-going Miriam Babangida Women Development Centre, said that the over N500 Million project which commenced barely a month ago, would be completed before the end of April 2014.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:20:23 +0000
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