Airports are a major force in local, regional and national economy that go beyond the airport fence and this could inform why many governments are getting involved in airport development to boost their economy.

In recent time in Nigeria, some states have gone into the development of new airports as a strategic instrument of  positioning their states for  economic growth  through expected growth of passengers and cargo traffic in the future.

One of such states is Delta State which recently commissioned  the Asaba International Airport.

The administration of Chief James Onanefe Ibori had muted the idea of building a standard air strip in Asaba, the state capital as one of its legacy projects aimed at infrastructure development of the state.

It was intended on completion, to enhance air travels, generate more revenue and thus, increase the financial base of the state.

But, after a critical appraisal of the needs of the state, it was considered that a category C airport, capable of handling big planes like Boeing 737 and cargo aircraft is preferred rather than an air strip which can only handle small planes.

The present administration led by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan views the airport project as part of a well articulated programme and views it as the mainstay of its 3- point agenda of Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructural Development. History was made recently when the first aircraft landed at the Asaba International Airport.

•Asaba Airport

The 48-seater aircraft which flew from Abuja landed with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on board. The maiden flight was received by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama and other top government officials and excited onlookers who thronged the airport to witness the flight.

And since then, many Nigerians have been flying into the airport with commendation for the work that is going on. This reporter was in Asaba recently on board an aircraft owned by Overland Aviation.

From investigation, it was learnt that the recently commissioned airport has cost the state government at least N17.5bn till date.

The airport project which is being handled by U.L.O Consultants is about 65 per cent complete at present and will be delivered to the state government very soon.

For a first time flyer to the airport, the terminal building of approximate total area 3,600sq meters and built to accommodate administrative buildings of airlines, departure and arrival lounges, is a beauty to behold.

Though the terminal is nearing completion, it is expected to be delivered by November this year, just as its runway 3.4km runway which can conveniently accommodate a B747 aircraft, is already completed.

At present, the airport is approved for visual operations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority with a plan to approve it for night operations when all the facilities are 100 per cent completed and put into use by the state government.

A source close to one of the agencies in the Nigerian Aviation industry told our correspondent that the Delta State Government plans to have at least six state-of-the-art fire tenders at the airport while four of those tenders have already been acquired and are operational at the airport.

Each fire tender according to investigation, cost the government about $1m.

At present, it is only Landover Airline that operates visual daily operations to the airport while other indigenous airlines too have indicated interest to fly to the airport once they are given approval to commence flight operations to the airport by the appropriate authority.

The source said, “The State Government is seriously mounting pressure on the contractor to finish the contract as agreed and when completed, it will be one of the best in this country even better than that of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two because of its facilities.

“The airport is already equipped with three avio bridges and that means it has six fingers, which will be used by the airlines. Just recently, the Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren commended its control tower, which he described as state-of-the-art and urged other managers of airports in the country to emulate.”

Confirming the figures in Lagos, the Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Barrister Chike Ogeah said that the state government had spent about N17.5bn so far, adding that the airport will be completed by December this year.