By Tony Adibe
The Managing Director of the Bayelsa International Airport (BIA), Dr. Abraham Apereseimokomo has said the reason for his recent visit to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) was to attract Federal Government attention and infrastructural development to the airport.
In an interview with NewsBits, the Managing Director explained that as the one taking charge of the Bayelsa International Airport, it was his duty to engage in necessary networking with relevant institutions and agencies as well as stakeholders in the aviation sector to attract critical development to the airport.
He said that the minister had promised to visit the Bayelsa International Airport soon for what he regarded as “needs assessment.”
He said: “Fundamentally, I appealed to the minister to support the state government, who has made huge contribution in making Bayelsa International Airport to be one of the best in the comity of state airports in Nigeria.
“I requested for federal support to the Bayelsa International Airport from the Federal Ministry of Aviation under the watch of the minister.”
Minister Keyamo (right) discussing with Dr. Apereseimokomo during the recent visit in Abuja
Dr. Apereseimokomo said he recalled to the minister that, although the Bayelsa International Airport came on Board in 2019, upon its commissioning by the then Governor of the State, His Excellency, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson upon completion, it however, became operational for the purposes of commercial flight in 2021.
“This is when United Nigeria Airline flew into Bayelsa for the first in history of the airport, having the governor on board and other top government functionaries,” he recounted to NewsBits.
The BIA boss further said: “As a consummate aviator with very robust professional experience in the aviation industry, and while taking charge as the Managing Director of Bayelsa International Airport, it behoves on me to network with key institutions within the industry to attract critical development to the Bayelsa International Airport.
“It is, of course, the forgoing assertion that has necessitated my visit to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON. By not mincing words, my visit to the minister was centered on professionalism.
“I brought up before the minister that the Bayelsa International Airport is state- owned. And that the Bayelsa International Airport came on Board in 2019, upon its commissioning by His Excellency Senator Henry Seriake Dickson upon completion.
But became operational for the purposes of commercial flight in 2021.”
Dr. Apereseimokomo also spoke on the person of the minister, describing him as “an excellent personality, very accommodating, and gives listening ear to developmental issues, and above all, people friendly,” adding: “He received me warmly in his office, acceded to my request and had promised to visit Bayelsa International Airport by himself for “needs assessment” anytime soon.”
He said that his visit to the minister yielded fruit. “My meeting with the minister was fruitful, and I am grateful to the minister for this kind gesture,” he said.
