By Chidi Ugwu
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN Wednesday received in audience the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge (SAN) OON.
Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made this known in a statement.
According to the statement, the esteemed royal father was accompanied by a distinguished delegation that included top political figures from Delta State, notably Hon. Ngozi Okolie Lawrence, the lawmaker representing Delta North at the House of Representatives, and Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Abuah-Olejeme, one of Delta’s most prominent female politicians.
The Asagba of Asaba expressed his gratitude to the Minister for his swift response given his busy schedule, however, he informed the Minister of his upcoming meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa tomorrow.
In his address, 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.
The royal father also articulated three key requests aimed at enhancing the aviation landscape in Asaba and Delta State at large. Firstly, he requested an increase in flight operations at Asaba Airport, which he thought should be more frequent owing to the status and importance of the city. He urged the Minister to leverage his position to facilitate the growth of flight operations in Asaba, transforming it into an international airport capable of accommodating regular international flights, and serving as a transit hub for large aircraft staying overnight.
Secondly, the royal father highlighted the growing pool of talented, veteran pilots among Delta’s youth, many of whom have developed pilot training programs. He requested the Honourable 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.
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.
Other notable members of the royal entourage included Obi Chief Nwanze Oduah, Odogwu of Asaba, Obi C. Ajufoh, Chief Amb. Charles Onianwa, Chief Peter Ejiofor, Chief Victor Nwose, Chief Fred Okonta, Chief Dr. Ken Mordi, Chief Phillip Ejike Nwokolo, Ogbueshi Godfrey Odogwu, Ogbueshi Sylver Oforgu, Chief Press Secretary, Chief Barr. Chuk Nduka-Eze, and Mr. Ebodi Eluaka, Chief Protocol Officer.
