THE ‘IMO AIR’ AND OKOROCHA’S STRIDE IN AVIATION
The
last time I checked, Imo State could proudly boast of an airline. The said
aircraft tagged “Imo Air’ was launched by the state’s government ably led by
Governor Rochas Okorocha penultimate week, precisely on Tuesday 24th
January 2017, after it successfully landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri
with passengers from Lagos State, at about 12:20pm.
It’s noteworthy that the aircraft has a
capacity of one hundred and forty (140) passengers. Prior to its successful
landing at the aforementioned airport, several Imolites and onlookers were of
the notion that the awaited feat was likely to be a mirage. At last, their
skepticism – which was natural and normal though – was proven wrong by the governor
who was accompanied to the airport by various top government functionaries. It
suffices to say that the above mentioned date ushered in a moment of ecstasy
mixed with astonishment. The mixed feelings were obviously witnessed by anyone
who could see through his/her eyes.
Therein, the governor made it known
that the number of airlines the state had planned to kick-off with, regarding
its interest in aviation business, was five. According to him, four additional
aircrafts were on the way, and would soon be equally launched by the ‘Rescue
Mission’ administration. The number one citizen went further to disclose that
the airline business would temporarily be managed on behalf of the state by
Dana Airline pending when the state would receive full license to run the
business.
It would as well interest you to note that the
governor reiterated his administration’s readiness towards ensuring that the
Imo airport is fully transformed to an International Cargo Airport in no
distant time. He said that the April 17, 2017, being the date the state was
targeting toward meeting the lofty demand, would never be shortchanged or
compromised. Based on his speech, the initiative which was supposedly a Federal
Government (FG) project was at the moment duly funded by the Imo State
government.
Stating that Governor Okorocha’s aim of
investing in the aviation industry is a welcome development ought to be
described as understatement. The governor has conspicuously proven to the general public, particularly
those who understand what it takes to run a venture in the said sector, that
the business the FG had been afraid of going into could easily be initiated as
well as managed by a state government. Actualization of such a feat has made
Imo to be reckoned the first state across the federation to invest in aviation,
especially at a period when every facet of the country is seemingly suffering
from economic comatose.
This very accomplishment is strongly
propelling my person to believe that one of the expensive statements made by
the Imo governor during the launch of the ‘Imo Air’ was something to behold. Speaking
at the event, Gov. Okorocha wholly told the members of the press, and of course
the entire public, that Imo – the Eastern Heartland – wasn’t affected by the
ongoing recession that is ostensibly nearing depression. That, to me, was
indeed an overstatement.
How could the governor claim that Imo
was not suffering from recession while the teeming workers in the state are
being paid seventy per cent (70%) of their salaries, and there was recently a
sixty per cent (60%) cut from the arrears of pension accruable to the state’s
pensioners? We must be mindful of how we speak in any public domain, so that,
we won’t end up generating crisis when the people are expected to rejoice. I
must say unequivocally that such an utterance didn’t augur well for any civil
servant or pensioner who was present at that epochal ceremony.
Though the government had really tried
to pay the workers’ salaries till date as well as cleared the backlog of
pensions owed the teeming senior citizens, it’s worth noting that these
stewards and retirees, as the case may be, were not being paid as they were
meant to. And the cut in the said payments was solely occasioned by the lingering
economic mayhem that’s apparently ubiquitous. So, coming out to tell the public
that the state was not negatively affected by the unbearable economic condition
was not unlike creating a paradoxical scene.
Lest
I digress, this critique is mainly informed by the need to let the Imo State
government realize that aviation business is often characterized by several
challenges and intrigues. Yes, a feat has obviously been recorded, but it’s
imperative to acknowledge that sustaining it ought to be of paramount
importance, both to the investor and the beneficiaries at large. It’s not
anymore news that lack of maintenance culture remains one of the major factors
bedevilling the contemporary Nigerian society, and Imo is no doubt not
exceptional.
To this end, I would advise the government in
question to take the day-to-day management of the venture very seriously with a
view to ensuring that the basic motive of establishing it is duly actualized.
Diversification is presently the only way out, and having thought it wise to
include the aviation industry in the scheme of things, is arguably a laudable
step; but it’s pertinent to comprehend that if we failed to do the needful in
the long run, the lofty dream would definitely yield further crises rather than
addressing the existing quagmire.
Hence, as much as I candidly commend
the amiable governor for recording this rare feat, I equally advise His
Excellency to ensure that the needed measure is taken as the odyssey
progresses. So that at the end, we will all gather to celebrate his person.
Think about it!
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