1st Plane Landing:Ibom International Airport

[zhonni]

What a shrewed politician! Talking about 8:13. You'll get it once you watch it.

[jordanmose]

when can one fly from europe to akwa ibom?

[ndioho]

This event is very moving.The happy faces of the spectators are genuine feelings that appreciate continuity, service and good leadership. God bless the Akpabio team! God bless Akwa Ibom!

[goldenismonica]

thats really great to hear they are progressing, but doesn't calabar already have an international airport?

[Akatkist]

Thanks for uploading. I was eager to see this ceremony. Atleast, the stress in the youruba land will be reduced. One can fly from outside naija to Akwa Ibom without the usual lagosian egoism.

[soccerplayerfolife]

Long live Akwa Ibom State!

[pastorwonders]

Am so much happy to have viwe the first of all in Nigeria and Africa that Akwa ibom is one of the largerst Airport,

And am so much greatful to the Government for creating out this projoct, and i will now traveling from Lagos to Akwa direct,when ever i came into the country, just becos of this goodnews i have seen am coming back to test my first flight to Akwa ibom.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@pastorwonders

Am happy you found the video useful. If you walk into any Arik office you'll find information on flight  times and schedules.

[Ikembembe]

whats the smoke trailing the airplane? no one made effort to sweep the airplane. debris cold easily damage the engines. why wasnt the heap of sand and construction vehicles removed from the run way? hmmm...

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@Ikembembe

That was not smoke or debris from the airplane it was dust from the runway -but that's to be expected on a new runway. Am not sure what you mean by, heap of sand on the runway. There was no heap of sand on that runway, how was the plane able to land??? (are you sure we are watching the same video?) The 3 vehicles you see are not construction vehicles. One is an ambulance, the other is a fire engine while the 3rd (the green vehicle) looks like some sort of fire fighting vehicle.

[Ikembembe]

oh yes, my post was wrong. i meant to say sweeping he runway. The runway should also have been washed with water. there was just too much dust when that plane landed. there is heap of sand by the runway. if u look well you will see it. and what are those vehicles doing there anyway when the plane was not distressed?

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@Ikembembe

On that score i agree with you there was dust on the runway. But i still think it is normal-it's like a newly constructed road-besides i've never heard a brand new road scrubbed down with water..or have you? The heap of sand was there because the airport was still under construction, but it's not in the way of the aircraft. About the vehicles-it is standard practice all over the world, to have several fire engines on standby by the runway when planes are taking off and landing.

[engrtony2003]

@globalmediaeuropeint

Thank You very much for the prompt response, i am very happy, that means i can fly in directly from Lagos to Akwa Ibom this december. I also want to commend you for your style of reporting using youtube, it is most effective, people like us outside Akwa ibom can appreciate what the govt is doing. Other journalist in the state should emulate you on all state projects . "seeing is believing", they say. thanks once again.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@engrtony2003

Thank you. Help spread the word. Not only do we provide visual affirmation of what the State Government is doing, we are also able to give people prompt answers from high government officials on any pressing question regarding the State. So do spread the word.

[engrtony2003]

I see this Airport being long overdue, thank God it is finally a reality, my next questions is when are we begining to have comercial flights, not having it soon is a kill joy

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@engrtony2003

Thank you for your query- i guess everyone is asking the same question. The Governor said regular flights will begin November 09. However, I'll put your question to the State Government today and post an answer to you as soon as possible.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@engrtony2003,

I spoke to the Deputy Governor this evening regarding your query. He said regular flights will start on th 26th of November 2009. He said 2 Arik flights will fly the Lagos Abuja route everyday (ie 2 flights to and from Akwa Ibom to Lagos and 2 flights to and from Akwa Ibom to Abuja) . He also added that urgent plans are underway for a direct flight between Ibom Airport and Houston inTexas.He couldn't however confirm how regular this flights to and from the USA will be.

[peps80]

@globalmediaeuropeint

Cairo Runway: 13,124 feet long

Harare, Zimbabwe has the longest @ 15,502 feet, followed by Kinshasa, Congo @ 15,420 feet.

Only airport in Sub-Saharan Africa with an Aircraft Cargo Repair Hangar... maybe in Nigeria, but not Africa. South Africa has all these amenities.

Please note, I am not putting Akwa State down, I am very pleased & proud, however, let us not falsely construe the facts to make it look like its phenomenal.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@peps80

Thank very much for your factual information regarding the length of Africa's runways.The information i gave in the video was given to me by the Gitto engineer(Gitto:Engineering Firm) supervising construction of the runway in Aug 09. Well if the runway is not as long as he claimed i wouldn't break sweat- this is not the Guinness Books of Records.The runway at Okobo,Oron is stunning.

Pls point of correction i did not say Aircraft Cargo Repair Hanger in Africa.I said Sub Saharan Africa.

[peps80]

I am very proud of the opening but can we stop exaggerating please... the 2nd largest runway in Africa? The most technologically equipped airport in Sub Saharan Africa? Let's learn to give correct facts instead of trying to make something real unreal.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

@peps80

I stand by those comments except you have new facts. 1) The Ibom airport has the longest runway after Cairo airport. 2) It is also the only airport in Sub Sahahran Afica with an aircraft cargo repair hanger!!!!

[eteobongfred1]

grt to be Akwa Ibomite.A great Stae

[MrSoomi]

Akpabio looks like a clown! Instead of focusing on the 'suffering of driving to Calabar Airport 6 hours drive away' he should have focused on job creation, economic vision and how that vision will be achieved through more work on this project. Ariks Boeing 737 looks beautiful.

[buffblaze]

THE AIRPORT WILL CREATE JOBS.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

buffblaze,

Exactly!!!!!

[globalmediaeuropeint]

MrSoomi,

Are you saying the airport will not create jobs? I don't understand your point.

[MrSoomi]

My point is that for far too long, Nigerian officials have lobbied and received funding for under-utilized, poorly-conceived airports in the hinterlands. The idea is to build airports, BUT, within a well-defined blueprint for development, perhaps through Free Trade Zones, incentives to the private sector, etc. The notion of "Build it and they will come" holds true only within an effective development agenda. Get me?

[globalmediaeuropeint]

MrSoomi,

Please visit my channel (google, globalmediaeuropeint) listen to the Governor, the Deputy Governor , and the SSG's interview. This is the blue print. The vision of Akpabio is to make Akwa Ibom the destination of Nigerians coming down south.

1) Tourism: Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre-with a mini Disney, water park, 16 storey , 5 Star Hotel, with a mono rail, mega mall & 6 screen cinema

2) Divert the Ibos going East to use our airport. Flyovers to contain the eastern traffic.

[globalmediaeuropeint]

3) The current mega road construction to facilitate investment.

4) Ibom Power Plant: 24 hour electricity to support development and tourism

5) The airport is the only cargo airport of it's kind in the Gulf of Guinea with the biggest hanger for aircraft repairs and maintenance.

This was a well thought out airport. All thanks to Attah and Godswill for being visionary and steadfast.

[Theeboy007]

good news!!

[globalmediaeuropeint]

The best news since the creation of Akwa ibom State!!!

[30mightypen]

powerful coverage.excellent breaking news.

thanks for being the media's first

[globalmediaeuropeint]

Thank you 30mightypen. Quite an emotional footage. Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio have put us on the map.

[uinteresting]

Victor Attah do wetin?????

[globalmediaeuropeint]

uinteresting,

What's your point? Victor Attah started the project.