Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was absent at the commissioning of the new International Wing at the Port Harcourt airport, Omagwa.
Amaechi who is the Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state was conspicuously missing at the event as the president makes his first visit to Rivers State since after his election in 2015.
However, photos circulated in the social media indicates that Amaechi was in Ibadan attending a Town Hall meeting organised by the Federal government at the time of the visit.
Meanwhile, President Mohammadu Buhari was received by Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike in company of other leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers state.
Also, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and two other Rivers state Senators including Andrew Uchendu and Osinakachukwu Ideozu as well as the Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside led other All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders in the state to welcome Buhari.
Speaking at the ceremony Buhari said the Port Harcourt International Airport terminal will play a significant role in promoting economic prosperity of Rivers State.
He said the new terminal will increase passenger growth as well as facilitate the movement of cargo, adding that the facility will bring the airport to international standard to create economic growth for Rivers State as well as the country.
The President said the concession of four international airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt will improve infrastructure in Nigeria.
He said the construction of new terminals will be linked to the Warri Rail Line.
Speaking further, Buhari said government is making deliberate efforts to increase handling capacities and infrastructure of the nation’s transport sector which was not taken care of since the 70s and 80s when they were built.
He said it was part of his promises to upgrade Nigeria’s transport infrastructure in all geo political zones of the country.
The president said:” Today’s commissioning is a significant landmark for international travelers especially those in the South South region.
“Not much was done after these airports were built in the 70s and 80s to increase handling capacity of the airports and so we needed to take decisive steps to ensure that our terminals meet the minimum international global standards.
“In the 2017 budget, I promised to upgrade Nigeria’s transport and complete a number projects that will be beneficiary to the nation economically and these include construction of new terminals, railways and power projects.
“Today’s commissioning is a direct policy to sustain economic growth in all geo political zones of the country,” the president said.
In his remarks, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the project commenced in 2014 and was inherited from the previous administration at 30 per cent completion in 2015.
He said despite the inherent challenges associated with the project, Buhari gave approval for the lapses to be corrected.
He listed the challenges to include: inadequate power supply, litigation, lack of apron space which have been addressed.
