At the commissioning the newly built Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) Omagwa, Rivers State, President Muhammadu Buhari said that the Federal Government was making deliberate efforts to boost the capacities and infrastructure of the Nigeria’s transportation industry which was not attended to when they were built in the 70s and 80s,.
The President said that the commissioning of the terminal was part of his promises to upgrade Nigeria’s transport infrastructure in all geo political zones of the country. According to him, “Today’s commissioning is a significant landmark for international travellers especially those in the South South region. Not much was done after these airports were built in the 70s and 80s to increase handling capacity of the airports and so we needed to take decisive steps to ensure that our terminals meet the minimum international global standards”
“In the 2017 budget, I promised to upgrade Nigeria’s transport and complete a number projects that will be beneficiary to the nation economically and these include construction of new terminals, railways and power projects.
“Today’s commissioning is a direct policy to sustain economic growth in all geo political zones of the country,” he added. Speaking earlier, Rivers State Governor, Nyeesom Wike assured the President that the people of Rivers State and indeed the South South are happy with the project, adding that it would further boost investment in the state.
“I can tell you this today that the people of Rivers State and the Niger Delta are happy with you Mr. President. This terminal here will help the drive of the state to grow the economy and it will attract investment to the state. What has happened here shows that Rivers State is safe, Rivers State is secure and if it was not CCECC will not have been here to construct this,” Wike said. The Port Harcourt Airport International terminal project is one of four major airport terminals in the country built with a $500 million loan taken from China in 2013 with Nigeria providing $100 million as counterpart funding for the projects.
Other terminals still under construction or nearing completion are that of Lagos, Abuja and Kano
Pix: Portharcourt international airport terminal 2
