Air Peace commences inaugural flight to Makurdi
**** Gov Ortom, passengers commands Air Peace initiative
By Abisola THOMPSON
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue says the newly inaugurated Air Peace flight to Makurdi, will further open up the state for foreign direct investment opportunity.
Ortom said this at the inaugural flight of Air Peace to Makurdi on Monday which witnessed dignitaries, stakeholders from all works of life.
TBI Africa Correspondent who flew the inaugural flight from Lagos-Makurdi-Abuja reports the excitement of passengers on board in the flight number P47440 from Lagos at 7:00am with full capacity.
The governor said that the partnership would attract investors into the State and allay the fear of investors who want to come into the state by roads.
According to him, with the air commercial transport, the state will further recorded remarkable progress and success story.
” The fear of investors coming by road to invest into the State has been addressed with Air Peace flying into the State three times a week.
” This will push the socio-economic development of the State and further provides greater opportunities and impactful for the indigenes.
” This will also reduce unemployment in the State. I thank Almighty God for this epoch landmark historic event,” he said.
Mr George Akume, Minster of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, lauded the governor for attracting the partnership of Air Peace to the State.
“In all of the attempts that have been made to attract air commercial transport into the State were not successful, but this one that was done by the governor was a success story.
” Regular flights into the State has been a challenge but today is a realisation of long awaiting success.
” It is a credit to the governor. It’s another proven success to the people of Benue State,” Akume said.
In his remarks, Mr Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace, said that the decision to extend their wings to Makurdi was borne out of their persisting original vision to interconnect various cities across Nigeria, thereby fostering unity and promoting impactful economic relations.
Onyema, who was represented by Mr Ayodeji Adeyemi, Grand Operations Manager, Air Peace, said the Makurdi route has actually been on popular demand by Nigerians and as a socially sensitive and responsive airline.
He said that the new connections would be operated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
According to him, the airline is constantly reviewing its route network vis-à-vis public needs while considering strategic ways of expanding it to provide immense value to Nigerians.
“It is with great delight that I stand here today to deliver this address to mark Air Peace’s entry into Makurdi.
“For us at Air Peace, this is a historic feat as no airline currently operates flights from Lagos to Makurdi.
“And we have been earnestly looking forward to this moment and we’re glad it is finally here,” he said.
Onyema said the Makurdi route has been on the airline radar for a while, having signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the state government.
“Today, as we commence flights into Makurdi from Lagos and Abuja, we are promising that this new route will be optimally serviced and Nigerians will benefit exceedingly.
“We also pledge to work very harmoniously with all the stakeholders domiciled in the state, the aviation regulator, the airport administrator and of course, the state government to ensure maximum success.
“We’re not oblivious of the employment opportunities that this new route stands to create for the indigenes of the state, as Air Peace was primarily set up to fill unemployment gaps in the country.
“And we solicit the continued support and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders for the airline to keep accomplishing lofty feats,” he added.
Onyema, however, expressed gratitude to Gov. Ortom, under whose leadership the commencement of the new route has been achieved.
“We must also thank the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), as well as other key stakeholders whose efforts have had a positive impact on the launching of this new route,” he said.
