The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed that the private sector would manage the newly launched Enugu Airlines completely with little input from the government.
The minister revealed this during the launch of the Enugu Commercial Airline project at the Akunu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Today. Keyamo revealed that some powerful private sector players came together and decided to run the project, deepening the reach of the aviation industry and opening up Enugu to the world.
The minister, in his congratulatory speech, narrated the challenges the Enugu state government faced on the cusp of setting up the airline.
” Before you have an Airline, you must have an Air operating certificate, and sometimes it takes two years to get your own AOC to operate. You have to go through so many procedures to get your own AOC. The governor, in the true spirit of getting things done, said he cannot wait for two years, and he would rather partner with somebody who already has an AOC. Let us start immediately. Keyamo said.
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The Aviation boss narrated how the Enugu governor pushed for a full-scale involvement of the private sector in the management of the prospective Enugu airline. The governor stressed that he doesn’t want the notorious grind of bureaucracy to stall the progress of the Enugu airlines, hence his preference for the Private sector.
The Governor came back to us and said, Look, I want to attract private sector investment into Enugu Airport. I will not wait for bureaucracy to run this airport for me. The pace of development is too slow.
I want the Private sector to take over the airport and develop it for the good people of Enugu State. The private sector is coming into Enugu Airport, driven by the Governor. He has a big surprise for you. The minister added.
Many dignitaries graced the Enugu Airport launch and were mostly individuals who played a key role in the project. Notable attendees to the event include the Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the CEO of Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, and top dignitaries from the Nigerian Aviation Sector.
The new airline fleet will service the Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt routes. In addition to prospective international routes in the near future.
