DELTA STATE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN WAY, ASABA

May 6, 2015
Press release

NCAA DOWN GRADE OF ASABA AIRPORT

On April 27, 2015, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) effected a down grade of Asaba Airport following the directive for the rehabilitation of the existing runway, taxiways and the construction of perimeter fence as well as training of technical personnel.

By the directive, only Dash 8 – Q 400 planes or their equivalent will continue to operate through the airport until the issues raised are resolved while all Boeing 737s and jets of similar category will be barred.

The issues raised by the NCAA have been known to the Delta State Government which has already set in motion the machinery for effecting the upgrades demanded by the regulatory agency. First, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, has approved the rehabilitation of the Runway and Taxiways in the airport. Similarly, the Governor has approved the engagement of a seasoned consultant to supervise the rehabilitation exercise.

The Government is vigorously processing the mobilization of the contractor and the consultant for the job to commence in earnest.
Already, work on the perimeter fencing has commenced. However, there is additional acquisition of over 400 hectares of adjoining land which has increased the scope of work. To boost security within the airport axis, the Government has employed 20 security guards to carry out routine surveillance of the airside.

On the training of requisite technical personnel, all the staff recently employed by the State Government have undergone the four-week mandatory basic training at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Training School, Lagos in 2013. Arrangement has reached advanced stage for sending them on specialized training relevant to their various departments.

It should be noted that Airports are permanent construction sites the world over and regulatory agencies which in Nigeria is the NCAA have the mandate to oversight all the airports and may from time to time raise any concerns thereof.

The down grade in the status of Asaba Airport has not in any way affected the operation of scheduled commercial flights in and out of the airport. Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Overland Air which operate scheduled daily flights has since deployed the right aircraft specification and are providing seamless services to passengers.

We hereby assure the general public that the Delta State Government is committed to effecting the upgrade of the facilities directed by the NCAA promptly and the status of Asaba Airport will soon be restored to accommodate bigger jets such as the Boeing 737. The airport is critical to consolidating the emerging economic frontier created by the airport which has become one of the few viable ones in the country.

Signed

CHIKE C. OGEAH Esq
Honourable Commissioner for Information

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I hope this message is clearly understood and dashed the hope of the attacking dogs already prepared to lampoon the state Govt over the downgrading.

Kudos to Uduaghan for his developmental strides in Delta State. Deltans cannot forget him in a hurry after May 29th.

$7BN on one shitty airport

Good news, the state government, the General public should note that the Asaba airport is very much functional. Critics are in dark. Kudos EEU

Goodnews, kudos to the state government, the General public should note that the Asaba airport is very much functional. Critics are in dark. Kudos EEU

Asaba, airport has been rated one of the best airport in the country with modern equipment and facilities put in place by the Uduaghan‘s administration. I don't see any reason why NCAA, will wake up from no where and say they downgrade the Asaba Airport. This is the only airport that has been more functional with more aircraft coming to land. Why now that the Uduaghan‘s administration is finishing strong, about leaving, that NCAA is waking up. All this are handwork of mischief makers. The issue of perimeter fencing NCAA, is talking, is already in its completion stage.

The Asaba International Airport has been commended by the FG due to the facilities that is present in the airport and I believe that construction of airport is a continuous move to meet up recent global standard and this airport has been meeting up standard but the words used by the FG is just too harsh knowing fully well that most of the things they lay complain of against the airport has been put in place before now,the training of staff has been done before now and more others ,so it's obvious that the Asaba Airport is still among the best in the country

Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is indeed committed to ensure that the Asaba International Airport is among the best in the country.upgrade of Airport is a continuous processes,you can upgrade today and tomorrow other rules will trip in which will required another upgrade and looking at it all you will discover that even before now the state government has already setup machineries to effect the request made by NCAA that is to simply say the Airport is in order,while work on the perimeter fencing is already ongoing,so I believe the airport is in the right track.Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has done excellently well in all sectors of the economy and he deserve a kudos.

I know this is is just a minor challenge. The delta state government I know is always on target and will very shortly, this will be a thing of the past. Dr. Uduaghan has attended to more dicy situations than this. It will soon be a thing of the past, I know.

How many state goverenment can build airport. even FG coildnt build this kind of airport in six years. lets give kudos to the best PDP governor in Nigeria
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UDUAGHAN HAS TURN DELTA STATE TO DUBAI. ANY ONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN TO WARRI IN THE PAST THREE YEARS SHOULD GET SOMEBODY TO ESCORT HIM OR HER TO WARRI BECAUSE THE PERSON MAY MISS ROAD. UDUAGHAN HAS CHANGED WARRI TO DUBAI WITH FLY OVER AND GOOD ROAD NETWORK EVERYWHERE.

UYCO:
UDUAGHAN HAS TURN DELTA STATE TO DUBAI. ANY ONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN TO WARRI IN THE PAST THREE YEARS SHOULD GET SOMEBODY TO ESCORT HIM OR HER TO WARRI BECAUSE THE PERSON MAY MISS ROAD. UDUAGHAN HAS CHANGED WARRI TO DUBAI WITH FLY OVER AND GOOD ROAD NETWORK EVERYWHERE.

Warri turned to Dubai, hehehehehehe

What's the use of engaging contractors and consultants at the same time? Are there not competent personnel in the civil service to supervise the project? Does the contractor lack technical knowhow on the project? Or is that how contracts are awarded now?

Well spoken.