The Federal and Enugu State governments will collaborate to finish and operate the international wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and establish a cargo terminal to increase the state’s and nation’s economy and tourism.
After touring the existing international terminal building and the projected international cargo terminal site at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on Monday, FAAN Managing Director and CEO Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed and Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah announced this.
Mr Mohammed applauded Mbah’s passion and sense of urgency in realizing and operating the two terminals, adding there was no better moment to discuss cooperation and collaboration.
“We met with the Governor today to coordinate with FAAN to make the international terminal functioning. I think His Excellency has the formula, and I can tell you that this terminal will be used as soon as feasible.
We started at the freight terminal. The shipping terminal and warehouse are there.
Being the capital of the South-Eastern region, Enugu is home to many international merchants.
The FAAN chief said a cargo facility will boost the South-East Zone’s and the nation’s economy.
Dr. Mbah told reporters that the airport’s international terminal, cargo terminal, and warehouse were essential to Enugu’s $30 billion economy because they enabled investments and crucial economic activity.
We need the shipping terminal. Agro-allied industrialization is replacing agriculture. Agriculture will produce food and exports. We need the cargo terminal to export agricultural and agro-allied products from the state. We must export here. We want to cooperate with FAAN to develop, finish, and operate a freight facility.
The international wing is almost complete. We must operationalize it. We can only earn money or affect anybody if it’s functioning. We cannot produce value for Enugu, South East, and the nation.
Tourism is essential to the massive economic growth plan we presented to our people. We want almost three million tourists to Enugu annually. Roads cannot do that. This terminal will be needed to fly passengers from across the globe to Enugu.
Mbah remarked, “We are looking at how we can cooperate with FAAN to complete this wing of the airport and operationalize it.”
Mbah guaranteed FAAN, and the state government will seek financing alternatives to complete the project.
These revenue-generating enterprises are bankable. So we can find a financial mechanism to complete this project promptly.
He said, “the ultimate aim is to have it operationalized immediately”.
Mbah also noted the state government and FAAN team had productive schedule negotiations to speed up both projects.
“So, we are going to set up a strategic framework of action where we will define our timetables in all functional areas to accomplish this project. He promised to put words into action this time.
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