Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has approved N14 billion for the recapitalisation of Ibom Air wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom State government to increase its fleet and expand its operations beyond Nigeria.
Ibom Air’s manager in charge of communications and marketing, Mrs. Anie Essienette, had recently announced that the airline which has seven aircraft in its fleet has concluded plans to expand regional flights to seven (7) West and Central African countries including Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Liberia, Côte D’Ivoire, in West Africa, Cameroon and Gabon.
The governor who presided over as chairman-in -council, bemoaned the current economic situation in the country and its attendant impact on the people, assuring that he was working assiduously to mitigate the negative impact of the cash crisis on the people.
He said: “I am interfacing with the relevant authorities to explore means of easing the current economic woes of the people,” and called for peace and understanding from the citizens, even as he expressed optimism that the situation would soon improve.
Other major decisions reached by the council include the approval for the execution of emergency works at the gully erosion sites in Cornelia Connelly College (CCC) along Ikpa road, Uyo;
approval for funds to implement the Akwa Ibom State Social Investment and Poverty Alleviation Programme (ASIPAP) to ameliorate the cost of living crises and to support young entrepreneurs, in line with the 2023 Appropriation Law of the state,
approval for the revitalisation of Akwa Ibom Water Company limited (AIWCL); payment of compensation for the acquisition of the site for Ibom Solutions Hub (ISH) in Mbo LGA and the re-award of contract for the construction of 8.5km Okoroette-Elile-Amadaka -Kampa road in Eastern Obolo LGA; to Hensek Integrated Services (HIS).
Announcing the recapitalisation, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong said it was part of the decisions reached at the state executive council meeting, which was presided over by the governor.
Ememobong said the council also approved the award of 7.5Km Ekim-Eyoabasi and Edikor-Udu-Okobo road in Udung Uko, Mbo and Oron local government areas of the state.
According to him, the contract for construction of 5.5km internal roads in Itu local government area was approved for award by council while approval “was granted for the payment of compensation for the acquisition of the site for Ibom Solutions Hub in Mbo council area.”
“The council also approved the contract for the construction of the 8.5km Okoroette-Elile-Amadaka-Kampa road, in the Eastern Obolo local government area. The contract previously awarded to Nigerpet structures Limited, was revoked and now re-awarded to Hensek Integrated Services.
“The state commissioner for works was tasked with ensuring the speedy and qualitative delivery of the project,” Ememobong said.
