OWERRI — THE Federal Government has sunk about N34 million out of a total contract sum of N48 million into the reconstruction of the terminal building of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA), Owerri. The Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Umar, who stated this after a tour of SMICA, however condemned what he termed “the poor work so far done” by the contracting firm. "I am not happy with the poor quality work on the reconstruction of the airport’s terminal building complex. The reconstruction work, as presently carried out by the contractor, will in no way enhance the beauty of the Airport and I do not see why government should spend so much money on the poor quality job”, the FAAN boss reasoned.
He said he was not out to witch hunt anybody; he however insisted that the contractor must do the right thing as well as finish the job before the year runs out. Directing his mind on the other facilities in SMICA, Umar promised that the Federal Government is desirous to improve the equipment in all the airports nationwide, in line with the dictates of International Civil Aviation Organization. "Government is determined to make all airports in Nigeria user friendly. We are determined to install facilities in compliance with the dictates of the International Civil Aviation Organization,” he assured.
He announced that there were plans to install instrument landing systems in SMICA, adding that when this is actualized, there would be more flights to the Airport and a corresponding increase in revenue generation.”We will take a closer look at the Fire Department. The Fire Tenders are pretty old. We will refurbish the old one. Similarly, it is not a good testimonial that we do not have a fuel dump in SMICA. We will complete work on the dump”, Umar promised.
Addressing some of the staff problems, the FAAN boss lamented that his administration inherited “very ugly situation” and quickly added that he would do everything possible to enhance staff welfare.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Airport Manager, Dr. Tony Alumona, disclosed that when he took over in March 2004, he met an average monthly revenue of N850,000, stressing that “now, we have grown up to over N2 million and in some months, up to N5 million”.
On staff welfare, he said that it has been improved to the extent that all personal allowances owed to staffsince the year 2000, had been paid to them by the present management.
While saying that one of the priority needs of the Airport is the completion of the Terminal Building, healso reasoned that it will invite many other airlines to be using the Airport, as well as increase therevenue base of the Airport.”Permit me to also say that the installation of airfield lighting will add to the safety of the flightoperations. Airport perimeter fencing when constructed will stop any form of free access into the airside.The two water boreholes at the Airport are unserviceable. These are priority needs of the Airport”, Dr. Alumona said.
He enumerated abandoned projects at the Airport to include staff quarters, fuel dump, airlines officesand shopping complex, pleading that the abandoned projects be attended to, in order to uplift theAirport to a higher standard.”We have uncountable problems facing the Airport and we are praying that the new management will come to lift this Airport to a higher standard”, the Airport Manager pleaded.
