FG to partner with state govts on maintenance of airports

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the Federal Government is ready to partner and cooperate with state governments to improve facilities at the nation’s airports, maintain terminal buildings and see how they could recoup their investments.

The Minister stated this when a team of delegates from the Nigerian Transportation Commissioners Forum – an appendage of the Federal Ministry of Transportation paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday, in Abuja.

Keyamo said: “It is good that you come, these are issues that we have been deliberating about, cooperating more with state governments to improve on facilities. I would like to see greater cooperation between our Ministry and state governments because most of these facilities are domiciled at the states.”

He urged state governments to work out details for the proposals on the improvement of airport facilities, as the Ministry is ready for that, adding that state governments is the Ministry’s number one partner since they have the same objective.

In his remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Cross River State, Pastor Ekpenyon Cobham who led the delegation told the Minister that the visit was the outcome of a conference meeting of Transportation commissioners to come and seek close collaboration through periodic consultation with the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

The Executive Secretary, of the Nigerian Transportation Commissioners Forum, Mrs Chinwe Uwaegbute, further said, “We just rounded up a two days summit for the inauguration of newly appointed Commissioners of Transportation, This delegation is sent to you to further improve on the relationship and synergy between the Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Transportation in the states”.

Mrs Chinwe disclosed that there is general complaints by passengers at the state due to shift or delayed flights by airlines without regards for the right of passengers or informing them.

The association wished the Minister a fruitful leadership tenure as he pilots the affairs of the Ministry.