The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has committed to sustaining partnership with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies to improve services at the Benin Airport and increase air traffic to the state.
The governor, who made the submission in commemoration of the International Civil Aviation Day, marked by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), said the state has made tremendous effort to reposition the Benin Airport, which has yielded positive fruits.
According to him, “I am elated today that planes can land in Benin City at night because of the decision we undertook to partner with the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to install key equipment required for smooth night operations at the airport.
“The state government constructed three security watchtowers; supplied and built houses for two 20KVA generators; provided 3 hiluxes to FAAN and facilitated the installation of CAT II Instrument Landing System/Distance measuring equipment by NAMA.
The Federal Government through Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) provided Thunder and Lighting System; Met Enclosure and Secure Aviation Date Information System while FAAN provided Enhanced Simple Approach Landing System.”
He said that the effort resulted in the upgrade of the Airport to commence night operations, which has led to increased air traffic, adding that the new regime would be leveraged to drive tourism to the state.
The governor noted that talks are also ongoing to construct an Agro-allied Cargo Terminal at the airport, so as to drive industrialization in the state.
