AK SEEKS PARTNERSHIP ON TRANSPORTATION

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Enobong Umoetuk has called on the Akwa Ibom people to rise up and partner with the state government to alleviate the current transportation problem in the state to ensure ease of movement by commuters.
He said, they could aid by floating part time taxi services as a means to convey people to and from the airport.
Making the call during the ministerial press briefing recently, Mr. Umoetuk said that Akwa Ibom Transportation Scheme, has in it fleet 200 taxi cars, 10 Marcopollo buses and 40 Toyota buses (18 seater) which have effectively contributed in making movement easier for the people.
He also expressed the hope that before the year runs out, government would increase the number of taxis in AKUTAN to about 500, Marcopollo buses to 50 and Toyota buses to about 100, in order to alleviate the sufferings of the public.
Concerning air transportation, he revealed that the development of Akwa Ibom International Airport project was divided in two phases, and phase one included the provision of airside facilities, land support, administrative building, access roads, clinic, fuel tank farm, emergency operating centre, fire hydrant around the runway etc.
According to him, phase two development would include expandable airside facilities (taxi way and apron), a permanent passenger terminal, air cargo facilities, expandable terminal parking etc.
The Commissioner assured that before February runs out, all works at the Interim Domestic Terminal (IDT) would be fully completed.

Some of the projects yet to be completed in phase one are: the administrative building, national hanger MRO, fuel tank farm, clinic, entrance gate, emergency operating centre and fire hydrant around the runway.
Mr. Umoetuk outlines projects that have been completed to include: air rescue and fire fighting facility, air traffic control tower facility and lighting vault and the aprons which is currently in use by Dana Airline while the police station has been completed but is awaiting furnishing, an occupation which should be done in a few weeks time.
Speaking further, he said that the state government has trained air frame and power plant engineers, aviation engineer and maintenance engineers in one of the best aviation schools abroad, while others attended NCAT Zaria, the foremost Nigerian Aviation Training School.
Daily flight operations has commenced at AKIA in order to assist the public, especially travelers who hitherto had to travel to Cross River State to board their flights.
Throwing more light on the Ibom Tropicana and Entertainment Project, Mr. Umoetuk assured that it would bring drastic positive changes to the state and work on the project is expected to be completed this year.
The project is comprised of a Mall, Cinema complex, 500 capacity multi-floor ultra modern convention centre, a 15 storey hotel containing 250 rooms, 3 hectares theme park and external works.