Ebonyi to Train Airport Staff, Install Traffic Lights – Obichukwu

The Ebonyi State Ministry of Aviation and Transport Technology is set to commence staff training and commission airline traffic lights at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in preparation for full operations.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi M. Obichukwu, during a media chat in Abakaliki on Tuesday, shortly after her appearance before the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts.

Dr. Obichukwu praised Governor Francis Nwifuru for his dedication to making the airport fully operational.

“I am always encouraged when they invite us like this. It tells us that we have monitors. It tells us that we ought to be prudent and transparent. It tells us to be cautious of people watching what we are doing,” she said.

She noted that the committee acknowledged the complexity and capital intensity of the aviation ministry and expressed satisfaction with the progress so far.

“We may not be reaping what we are sowing now, but it will gradually come. And from the interaction we had with them, they are pleased with what we are doing at the aviation. And they are encouraging us to continue, especially the issue of flight movement.

That the flight movement is helping to advertise the airport. And I thank God for that. I am equally grateful to His Excellency who has doggedly determined to ensure that the airport works. We are the supervising ministry and we are making sure that the airport does not fail.”

Looking ahead, the commissioner revealed that key milestones are near completion.

“Very soon, we will be having our training. Very soon, we will be commissioning the airline traffic lights. That has made us not to be flying in the night. Once the installation is done, we will now have flight operation in the evenings as well,” she added.

On the status of the Ebonyi Airline PLC, Dr. Obichukwu confirmed progress with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration, a critical requirement for securing an air transport license.

“Yes, CAC pertains to the Ebonyi Airline PLC. Without the CAC and the board members that are working for the airline, we may not be able to have what we call the air transport license,” she explained.

“The CAC includes the CAC of the board members as well. We have the Rice World CAC. We have the ICT CAC. And then, those of us that are not company, we must have to show our payee, pay as you earn tax for 33 years. All these things are fund intensive.”

She credited Governor Nwifuru’s determination for the progress made so far.

“But I thank our dear Governor, Francis Nwifuru, once he is determined to do something, nothing stops him. We have gone ahead to get all the CACs that are required. And now we are heading for the air transport license.”

While the aircraft itself is not yet in place, the commissioner affirmed that preparations are in advanced stages.

“Once the air transport license comes in, the next thing is the airline, the aircraft. That means the aircraft will soon be ready? Not that the aircraft is already ready, wherever it is. But once the rudiments and all the activities, all the requirements, all the documentation, which are currently ongoing.”

She also revealed that major security and administrative hurdles have already been cleared.

“We just concluded with the DSS and the Secretary of the Federation, SGF. We are now ready to be issued the license to enable the purchase. And to procure an airline is not like buying ordinary refrigerator from any market.”

She added that experts will be involved in the final selection process to ensure safety and quality.

“There are other ways to go with it. Like if we see the airline, we have professionals from FAN, NCAA and all the rest of them, that will now go and monitor to ensure that the aircraft is good,” she said.