Bayelsa-Airport

…says airport has potentials to stimulate economy of the state

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote says, the Bayelsa State international airport project has the potential of opening up the state for investments and other socio-economic activities to thrive.

Mr. Wabote, who stated this while speaking with newsmen during his visit to the facility, at the Wilberforce Island, noted that, when completed the project would enable investors to easily access and explore the state’s natural resources for mutual benefits.

Describing the airport project as impressive and world-class, Mr. Wabote said, until his visit to the facility, he had the impression that, it was just an airstrip that the state government was constructing.

According to the NCDMB boss, the state government has done creditably well in the area of infrastructural development and called on the private sector to key into the development agenda of the present administration.

Mr. Wabote, who drove on the 3.5 kilometre runway, described it as the best in the country, in terms of the quality of work done, noting that, if completed and properly managed, the airport would stimulate the economy of the state.

His words: “An airport with a 3.5 kilometre runway, there is none like that in Nigeria. As such, I think it portends great future for the state, if properly managed, harnessed and then linkages are also created, I think the sky is the limit.

“As such, I think it portends great future for the state if properly managed and harnessed and then linkages are also created, i think the sky is the limit. I think it has got potential and we need to harness that potential.

“What i have seen here is just unbelievable. It is good quality work; they got the right contractor and i have driven round the runway and i can see with nostalgia that the right quality is being maintained. And it can stand any airport of any kind in any part of this world because that is the quality that i see here.”

“It is a challenging terrain no doubt about it, I’m sure that contractor spent time sand-filling and getting the runway itself stabilized and ensuring that it settles on time I’m sure a massive work has gone in here. I can see the kind of equipment the contractor is using. It really gives me a much better impression than i had before i came here.”

“It is a gateway in my view because one about investors and travellers is that they want travelling and access to be made easy. And with this kind of airport with a 3.5 kilometre runway, there is none like that in Nigeria As such, I think it portends great future for the state if properly managed and harnessed and then linkages are also created, i think the sky is the limit.”