Posted by Xinhua on
Nigeria's southern state of Akwa Ibom has signed a 125 million US dollars contract with Dyna Corp. of the United States for the construction of an international airport in the state, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported Saturday.
Nigeria's southern state of Akwa Ibom has signed a 125 million US dollars contract with Dyna Corp. of the United States for the construction of an international airport in the state, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported Saturday.
The project which was conceived in 2001 is expected to be completed by December 2006, said Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah.
Equipped with a hanger facility, the first of its kind in West Africa, he said, the project will be the first privately-managed airport in Nigeria, the most populous African country with a population of over 130 million.
The project has three components of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; cargo operations; and run-way and control tower.
At the contract signing ceremony on Thursday, Governor Attah described the project as "unique," saying the airport was designed to handle the wide-body plane like Boeing 747.
He added that the first phase of the project would include the construction of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, a 3.6-km runway and a taxi way to the MRO facility, complete with air traffic, fire and rescue facilities.
According to the governor, the airport will inspire socioeconomic development, promote technological transfer and generate employment for the people.
According to Federal Minister of Aviation Babalola Borishade, the airport when put into operation will incorporate the National Hanger Center and boost the operations of the West African aviation hub in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria.
Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Steve Canon, an executive officer of the US company, pledged the provision of mega facilities at the airport.
He said the project would serve as a model for private/public sector partnership, but would require the commitment and support of the state government.
There are so far four international airports in Nigeria, including Abuja airport in the nation's capital, Lagos airport in the commercial capital, Kano airport in Nigeria's northern leading industrial city and Port Harcourt airport in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, southern Nigeria.
Source: Xinhua