Claims that the Akwa Ibom State Government blocked other airlines from using the Victor Attah International Airport, which is owned by the state, have been denied.
Since its establishment in 2019, Ibom Air has operated as the only airline in the state, leading some to speculate that it possessed a monopoly.
Engineer Uwem Ekanem, the Honorary Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno on Aviation and Airport Development, claimed Monday at a ministerial press briefing at Government House, Uyo, that the state has opened up its aviation sector to other airlines.
While preparations were finalised for Air Peace to begin flight operations on October 23, he announced that the administration had started negotiations with ValueJet regarding operations in the state.
The idea that Ibom Air is a monopoly is completely unfounded. Hope it comes in soon; we’re in talks with ValueJet.
Victor Attah International Airport will be the site of Air Peace’s inaugural flight on October 23. The chance for other airlines to get into the state’s aviation hub will be opened up, he added.
Emem Almond Bob, the ministry’s supervising commissioner for special duties and the Ibom Deep Seaport, has indicated that the project’s implementation has been delayed due to an absence of enough funding.
He claimed that the state of Akwa Ibom was still trying to entice investors so the project could start, even though it had received the required permissions from the federal government.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given its approval to the Ibom Deep Seaport feasibility study. We have been informing the people of Akwa Ibom that the Ibom Deep Seaport cannot be undertaken by the Akwa Ibom State Government in isolation, but now that all the necessary clearances have been obtained, we can move forward with the project.
That is why the governor has been making rounds to meet with potential investors—we need their money. “We are still engaging investors and the discussions are ongoing,” he stated.