Stories by Ime Akpan
Lagos
Abuja Bantaba, a meeting event for travel and tourism professionals, has honoured the former minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, with the Legends of Travel Award.
The organizers of the event, Akwaaba African Travel Market, said the former minister was given the award in recognition of her immense contribution to the aviation industry between 2011 and 2014.
“Oduah left a mark on the aviation sands of times that will take a long time to be surpassed. She upgraded the airports, transformed some into international airports and started the construction of brand new international terminals at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports,” said Mr.IkechiUko of Akwaaba African Travel Market.
Continuing, Uko said: “The recognition of the former minister of aviation is to reward hard work and also encourage others in government to always put in their best. No matter the criticisms and controversies that trailed her tenure as minister of aviation, nobody can take her achievements in the industry for granted, especially in the area of airport remodelling and upgrade of aviation facilities in the country’s airports.
“Within a short space of less than two and half years, Oduah was able to remodel and restructure 11 airports out of the 22 airports owned by the federal government and kick-start the comprehensive rehabilitation of the other 11 airports.
“Under Oduah, the federal government reached a deal with Chinese Exim Bank and the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for the building of five new airport terminals at the airports in Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja; work has started at the site of the new terminals and the construction is billed to be completed by early 2016.
“The former minister of aviation also introduced aerotropolis, an airport city that will create businesses around the four designated airports in Kano, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt and develop a city of enterprises that will be galvanised by travellers and airport users to boost commerce and employment in the country.
“Oduah also started the establishment of 14 perishable cargo terminals aimed at making farmers have access to international markets for Nigeria’s farm produce. This will empower Nigerian farmers economically and boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
“These developments are expected to contribute substantially to the nation’s gross domestic product and stir a burst of economic activities at the airports which hitherto were grossly under-utilised.
“What the former minister achieved during her tenure is already boosting air travel in Nigeria as more domestic carriers are joining the market while new foreign airlines are coming to operate in Nigeria so that the country may take full advantage of its high population of international air travellers.”
