The Asagba of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge has called for the enhancement of the aviation landscape in Asaba and Delta State at large through increasing, flight operations at Asaba Airport, due to the status and importance of the city, urging the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to leverage his position to facilitate the growth of flight operations in Asaba in transforming it into an international airport .
According to him, the airport is capable of accommodating regular international flights, and serving as a transit hub for large aircraft staying overnight.
The Monarch also highlighted the growing pool of talented, veteran pilots among Delta’s youth, many of whom have developed pilot training programs.
He requested the Minister’s intervention in supporting these youths through government channels, including the possibility of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to help realize their dreams of advancing their training and becoming professional pilots.
He made the case when he was received by the Minister in Abuja on Wednesday.
A statement by Tunde Moshood, special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister, noted that the royal father commended the Minister for his transformative initiatives in the aviation sector, particularly for his role in the advancement of aviation infrastructure in Nigeria. He expressed that Deltans are immensely proud of the Honourable Minister’s remarkable achievements in the industry.
In response, the Minister expressed his sincere apologies for not having been the first to visit the royal father, acknowledging that such a meeting had long been on his agenda.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the Asagba’s requests are prioritized and met, emphasizing that as a proud Delta son and cabinet member, he would personally oversee the progress of all matters raised during the meeting with the President.
On the specific issue of Asaba Airport, the Minister acknowledged the strategic location and potential of the airport, agreeing that it should become the Eastern hub of aviation in Nigeria.
He assured the royal father that discussions with airport concessionaires would be pursued to make the international status of Asaba Airport a reality. Additionally, the Minister proposed the idea of establishing partnerships with domestic and international airlines to facilitate interlining, thus enabling passengers to easily connect from Asaba through transit to international destinations.
The Minister also expressed his eagerness to engage with Delta’s talented youths involved in pilot training. He pledged to meet with them and explore ways to incorporate their expertise into Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, even if it involves forming partnerships or leveraging PPP models.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both the royal father and the Minister reaffirming their commitment to working together for the continued development and progress of Delta State, especially in the critical aviation sector.
