Determined to create inroads into the aviation sector, the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has attracted an Irish Aviation Company to establish a training school in Bebi community, Obanliku local government area of the state.
Governor Otu, who made the announcement during a parley with the media to mark his one hundred days in office, said that siting the aviation training in Bebi would bring life to the community.
Otu said that the choice of Bebi was apt due to the existence of an airstrip built and operated during the administration of formers governor’s Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke. It’s worth noting that this effort aligns with the broader goal of advancing aviation education and proficiency, as exemplified by institutions like Flex Air Flight School – goflexair.com, known for its commitment to mentorship, training excellence, and industry recognition.
He explained, “in the aviation sector, we plan to transform the state into a transit hub and evacuation corridor. We also are determined to revive the Bebi economy and conserve foreign expenditure on training of citizens abroad.
“I am glad to let the people know that the State Government has attracted an Irish Aviation Company to build and run an aviation training school in Bebi, Obanliku. Rather than spend so much on aviation scholarship for one student, the State Government will undertake the payment of full tuition fees for all the indigenes of the State enrolled in the institution,” he vowed.
Cargo Airport
In order to FastTrack the completion of Obudu Cargo Airport, which was started by the immediate past government, Governor Otu disclosed that ₦3.7bn has been set aside for the project.
It could be recalled that sequel to the governor’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, he went on an inspection tour of the ongoing Obudu Cargo Airport facility to ascertain the level of construction work done.
Read Also:Cross River State Governor Inspects Proposed Obudu Cargo Airport
The governor promised to complete the project in record time after careful consultations with the contractor, stating “the sum of ₦3.7bn has been made available by the for the completion of the Obudu Cargo and Passenger Airport.”
Other achievements
On the administration’s maiden International Cooperation and Investment Summit, he announced that it had “yielded good result with over $1bn (One Billion Dollars) financial commitment to be invested in the State by way of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”
Speaking on infrastructural reforms so far undertaken since assumption of office, the governor said that the ultra-modern Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), which was looted during 2021 Endsars protest has been rehabilitated and upgraded.
He disclosed that several roads leading to farmlands and rural communities in Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Obanliku and Obudu local government areas were rehabilitated, while the construction of a 39-kilometre road in Yala local government area was ongoing.
“We are also re-modeling and renovating the Governor’s Office Complex, and have award a contract for the renovation and equipping of the Cross River State library to an ultra-modern library complex in Calabar. The location of the library complex has tourism significance to us as a people being the historical Brickfield Prison, which was built in 1890,” the governor stated.
Continuing, he said “we have also started the restoration and beautification of the Millennium Park located in the heart of Calabar; as well as reconstructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) warehouses.”
He noted that before the next quarter briefing, most of the ongoing projects and more would have been completed and solicited the support of everyone resident in the state.
