The atmosphere was electric. The trigger was the majestic entrance of the multimillion dollar, brand new Ibom Air Airbus into the sprawling frontage of the imposing aircraft workshop known as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facility.
This was in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, December 8, 2023, at the Victor Attah International Airport.
Instinctively, Akwa Ibom leaders in the VIP stand led by Governor Umo Eno, along with the entire crowd, stood up in awe, to salute the newest bride and queen of the Ibom Air fleet.
It was akin to the arrival of the governor on occasions. Nobody told anybody to stand up. But they did. It did not matter that Pastor ImoAbasi Jacob, Chairman of Ibom Air, was making his welcome speech at the time. He too could not help but stop midway, as nobody paid attention anymore to him, in the presence of the delectable aircraft.
With the dignity of a royalty, the incredible machine, the most modern aircraft in the commercial airline industry worldwide, taxied regally into the arena, turned right and left and parked in front of the applauding and roaring crowd.
Jacob, the Ibom Air Chairman had to summarise his speech extempore, while all eyes were on the five pilots, two AkwaIbomites, another Nigerian and three Canadians, who walked down the gangway with the usual ‘swag’ that pilots worldwide are known for. They had flown cumulatively for about 15 hours from Mirabel, Quebec, Canada before they landed in the Promise Land, as Akwa Ibom is nicknamed.
A quick welcome remark was made by Dr. Iniobong Essien, a brilliant medical doctor turned Chairman of Ibom Airport Development Company Limited. He knew all eyes were on the 127 feet long and 160 seater Airbus A220-300.
Then, it was the turn of the man who had been part of the Akwa Ibom aviation dream right from Obong Victor Attah Administration. He is the encyclopaedia of everything aviation in Akwa Ibom State. His name is Captain Mfon Udom. He was headhunted by Governor Attah in 2002 to advise him on a possible airport project in the state. He is the man who worked with a small team of other Akwa Ibom men to identify the site of the airport. He concluded that part of his job creditably was when the site he picked for the proposed airport was approved in 2004.
In 2015, when Udom Emmanuel was elected governor, even before he was sworn-in, the governor-elect drove 15 minutes from Uyo to Asuna, the country home of Captain Mfon Udom, a scion of the famous Udom dynasty. He broached the idea of Ibom Air with Captain Mfon Udom, a renowned aviator in Nigeria, and eventually persuaded him to champion the project once he was sworn into office as governor. That’s how Captain Mfon Udom became the first and only CEO of Ibom Air, the brainchild of then Governor Udom Emmanuel. Now, he had the podium to himself to share the testimony of how Ibom Air made it this far, in a country where the National Airline is jinxed.
Calm and collected with a trademark simplicity, Captain Udom took over, not only the podium. He took charge. Speaking extemporaneously with the confidence of a falcon in flight, he traced the history of Ibom Air with precision up till date. Of course, he had all the facts on his fingertips and knew the industry like the back of his palms. He had chalked up adequate experience in the aviation sector since 1972 when as a boy, he walked into the secured premises of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria to begin a course as a pilot. And now, five decades later, he is the master.
“Someone asked me a question very recently,” Captain Udom began: ‘why are you spending this kind of money buying one aircraft?’
Today, I think I have the opportunity to answer his question. Yes, the amount of money we paid for this aircraft will buy five other aircraft you fly with in this country”, he said. That was a shocker.
But he went ahead to justify the airline’s decision to go for a very expensive Airbus. “Ibom Air is futuristic. We are very compliant with the latest development in the aviation industry globally. You must have heard about the global campaign to reduce carbon emissions and enhance better quality of life on earth. This Airbus is custom-made with that in mind. It is built to use very minimal fuel. It is certified to operate with 50% aviation fuel. This aircraft’s carbon emission is about 25% lower than aircraft flying in this generation. This aircraft is the most modern and most technologically advanced aircraft in the whole wide world today. We can use this aircraft to operate short sector flights like Lagos, Abuja, Uyo, but this same aircraft will fly Uyo to Johannesburg, Uyo to Cape Town, with ease and pleasure”. The crowd erupted with a prolonged applause.
The economics of the Airbus was laid bare to the public. Captain Udom said the aircraft will save Ibom Air One Million Naira on fuel per flight between Uyo and Abuja or Lagos. For the 2800 flights Ibom Air has operated in four years, the new aircraft would have saved the airline a colossal N2.8 billion on fuel alone. Then, he boasted without noticing it about the manpower capacity of the airline and announced that two of the pilots that flew the Airbus from Canada to Uyo are Ibom Air pilots that were proactively trained by Ibom Air ahead of the delivery of 10 new Airbuses the airline had ordered for. This is in addition to the 20 pilots and 20 aircraft engineers that the state government is currently training overseas.
The applause became deafening. Even the governor was inspired as he clapped and smiled with satisfaction. Captain Udom was about to step down from the podium when the governor said NO WAY, “Captain, you must sing a song of praise to God before you step down”, Governor Eno yelled in excitement from where he sat with his wife, Patience, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, his deputy, Obong Attah, the man known and loved as the father of modern Akwa Ibom State, and Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the Speaker Of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly. His song was not as smooth as Ibom Air flights, but familiar enough for everyone to chorus along: “Thank you, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord for everything you have done”.
It was on that spiritual note that former Governor Attah took over at the podium. He praised his three successors for continuing on the aviation projects from where he left off in 2007. He said government is a continuum and continuity is a biblical ordinance.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase”, Obong Attah, a Catholic, preached in the words of Paul the Apostle. He expressed confidence in Governor Eno to further the quantum leap of Akwa Ibom in the aviation sector by completing work on the multimillion dollars MRO, facility in the airport so that all airlines in Nigeria and beyond will be flocking to Akwa Ibom for the repairs and servicing of their aircrafts.
Can a good thing come out of Nazareth? Many Akwa Ibom doubting Thomases have repented with ashes since Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President who was a governor and his successor, Udom Emmanuel, opened their eyes to ambitious turnkey multimillion dollars projects across the land. That means what God cannot do in Akwa Ibom, including the MRO, does not exist.
Fittingly, the best part of the day was left for Governor Eno, who, in six months in the saddle, has won many hearts and scored very high marks in his job approval ratings.
First, the pastor in him nearly turned the occasion into a crusade as he stepped up the thanksgiving and worship songs from where Captain Udom left off. That was made more powerful with the heavy presence of many top church leaders, including Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, Apostle Professor Isaiah Isong, Rev. Dr. Ndueso Ekwere, the governor’s uncle and former Chairman of the Christian Association Of Nigeria, CAN, and his successor, Bishop Chris Nyong, at the occasion. Then he turned his attention to his predecessors for commendations, as he zeroed in on the immediate past governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the visioner of Ibom Air, for the enviable legacy he left behind, not only in the aviation industry but in excellent road networks and other infrastructures in the state.
“Let me particularly celebrate and thank my worthy predecessor for his vision in conceptualising and breathing life into Ibom Air, the pride of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria…Today, Ibom Air is the leading brand in the Nigerian aviation industry, a mere four years plus after it started commercial operations,” Governor Eno said.
A man of depth and insight on development issues, he assured Akwa Ibom and Nigeria that the state is poised only to go forward under his watch.
“There is no two-way out. It is either Akwa Ibom goes forward or Akwa Ibom goes forward”, the governor said.
Furthermore, the governor said, “My administration is dedicated to supporting the giant strides the airline has made. We have kept faith with all previous financial obligations entered into, with Airbus, by the immediate past Administration and the result of that, is the event we are witnessing today.” He enumerated the various steps he had already taken to make Akwa Ibom the aviation hub in Nigeria and West Africa.
“Since we came on board, no work has stopped in any of our aviation projects and programmes…We have provided the funds for the training of pilots and the deepening of the already first- class cabin services of the Ibom Air. We have done extensive work on the airside perimeter fencing of the airport, and the continuous funding of the 8.5 km Airside Patrol Road, which is now ready for commissioning. We have equally continued the funding of the parallel Taxiway Rapid Exit, the Apron construction, as well as finishing touches on the International Terminal Building, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, the VIP Car Park, Access Road into the Terminal Building and the underground drain alongside the CCTV Control,” the governor said.
While thanking President Bola Tinubu, who has travelled out frequently with him for overseas engagements, he praised the president for “being a great father of the nation, and for engendering a spirit of bipartisanship in our political engagements”.
He confirmed that the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, will be visiting Akwa Ibom next week to explore areas of partnership with the rapidly growing aviation sector in the state.
Thereafter, the governor in the company of his wife, Patience, the deputy governor, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the President General of the Traditional Rulers Council, His Eminence, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the State PDP Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan along with Senator Effiong Bob, Senator Ibok Essien, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai and Apostle Professor Isaiah Isong, among others were escorted into the new aircraft to feed their eyes as more prayers were offered in Ibibio and English to dedicate the aircraft and airline to Akwa Abasi Ibom, the Almighty God, to whom the State is named after.
The new aircraft is expected to go to work quickly to expand the thriving West African route of Ibom Air and increase its popularity in seven other domestic destinations.
Said Governor Eno: “Buy your tickets, I will buy my ticket. I will buy tickets also for those travelling with me. I’ll like to enjoy this beautiful aircraft… We will certainly have our Happy Hours in this aircraft”.
*Anietie Usen is the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He is a regular contributor to The Frontier
