Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the immediate acquisition of two Bombardier CRJ aircraft, to boost the Ibom Air fleet.
This was part of approvals granted during the August 2024 State Executive Council meeting held at the EXCO Chambers, Government House, Uyo.
Briefing the press after the meeting, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, said the new two CRJ jets, just like the recently received Airbus 220-300, are not part of the aircraft ordered in 2021, out of which only one has so far been delivered.
He explained that the need for the fleet expansion was due to Ibom Air’s decision to cover some low-traffic routes that require slimmer, more economical aircraft than those used in heavy-traffic routes like Uyo-Abuja–Lagos.
“‘Exco has approved plans by Ibom Air to immediately increase its fleet of aircraft with two CRJ jets to consolidate its enviable position as the leading airline in Nigeria”. In his words.
According to him, while Exco acknowledged the excellent performance of Ibom Air, the government urged the management of the airline not to rest on its oars but to continue to do more to consolidate and maintain its leading position in the aviation industry.
The commissioner hunted further, that the Governor, who precided over the State Council meeting, has restated his administration’s resolve to fulfill its campaign promises, in line with the ARISE Agenda.
As such, Udoh said the governor had directed the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, to ensure that all contractors are set to return to the site as the rains begin to recede.
He, however, disclosed that the Council also approved new road construction contracts as part of efforts to boost the economic growth of the state.
On Culture and Tourism, Udoh hinted that “Exco received a briefing on plans by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to include in-bound footfall into the state in the Fourth quarter of the year in addition to the preliminary plans for another December to remember in Akwa Ibom, featuring Christmas Unplugged 2.0 and Christmas Carol season 17”.
He explained that such plans would be accomplished through a series of events starting from the commemoration of the World Tourism Day 2024, coming up in September.