Project on Airport Sustainability.
Sam Mbakwe Int'l Cargo Airport...the journey so far -19 years of day flight operations:::
The history of Sam Mbakwe Airport (formally known as Imo Airport) as wellas it's operational status shall continue to generate mixed feelings amongstthe Imo citizenry. For record purposes, the airport was single - handedly builtby Imo people through a fund-raising committee chaired by late SenatorEvan Enwerem, who then the Chairman Board of Directors of Nigeria AirportsAuthority. In fact, every Imo citizen, home and abroad, through Town Unions, wasmade to contribute through what was then known as Airport levy. Evenschool children and the unemployed voluntarily contributed towards theproject in accordance with an I.B.C jingle that said "one naira is not too smallfor an Imo airport". All payments were duly receipted for. I still have mine uptill today. This zeal of contributors in ensuring the realization of the Imo airport projectstemmed from a general feeling of marginalization of the Imo people byFederal Government, controlled by several military juntas including the shortterm of Shagari administration. This marginalization was very clear and wasmeted out to Imo people with such impunity that the Federal Governmentduring the period was constructing airports all over the country. You can imagine State capitals such as Yola in Katsina State "blessed” with a standardinternational airport with little or no traffic nor economic value. Theauthorities, out of political persecution/ marginalization became myopic ofthe economic maxim, viability, when establishing a business venture. Flightfrequencies to such unviable airports where maintained inspite of poor loadstatus. Meanwhile, 80% of passenger traffic to and from Port Harcourt international airport came from Imo. Little wonder Port Harcourt had the highest number of daily flights in thecountry then. The Imo Airport, which is now christened by the same FederalGovernment as Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport had its
The history of Sam Mbakwe Airport (formally known as Imo Airport) as wellas it's operational status shall continue to generate mixed feelings amongstthe Imo citizenry. For record purposes, the airport was single - handedly builtby Imo people through a fund-raising committee chaired by late SenatorEvan Enwerem, who then the Chairman Board of Directors of Nigeria AirportsAuthority. In fact, every Imo citizen, home and abroad, through Town Unions, wasmade to contribute through what was then known as Airport levy. Evenschool children and the unemployed voluntarily contributed towards theproject in accordance with an I.B.C jingle that said "one naira is not too smallfor an Imo airport". All payments were duly receipted for. I still have mine uptill today. This zeal of contributors in ensuring the realization of the Imo airport projectstemmed from a general feeling of marginalization of the Imo people byFederal Government, controlled by several military juntas including the shortterm of Shagari administration. This marginalization was very clear and wasmeted out to Imo people with such impunity that the Federal Governmentduring the period was constructing airports all over the country. You can imagine State capitals such as Yola in Katsina State "blessed” with a standardinternational airport with little or no traffic nor economic value. Theauthorities, out of political persecution/ marginalization became myopic ofthe economic maxim, viability, when establishing a business venture. Flightfrequencies to such unviable airports where maintained inspite of poor loadstatus. Meanwhile, 80% of passenger traffic to and from Port Harcourt international airport came from Imo. Little wonder Port Harcourt had the highest number of daily flights in thecountry then. The Imo Airport, which is now christened by the same FederalGovernment as Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport had its