National Issues
Please permit me to refuse to share in the excitement of Ibom Air -By Obinna Aligwekwe
Even as the Akwa Ibom state government has matched word with action, as opposed to some other administration where plans to float an airline remained at a perpetual stage of logo formation, I still think an Airline at this point by any government entity is misplaced priority.
Private Airlines already exist in Nigeria.
Our tourism potential has not exponentially increased in recent years.
There is no data that suggests the route from any part of the Nation to Akwa Ibom is oversubsribed as to need more aircraft.
In today’s world, even the most competitive airlines run at serial losses.
Akwa Ibom, just like any other state in Nigeria, is still grappling with very critical areas:
- The former governor Akpabio was said to have built an ultra-modern hospital which today is under lock and key due to lack of medical staff. Can the government truly say this problem has been sorted?
- Can the people of Akwa-Ibom truly boast of at least 18 hours of electricity all over the state?
- How far has the government sorted out this issue of the unemployment in the state?
- How about rural infrastucture that is likely to benefit the millions who will never take a flight?
Yes, argument can be made wonderful construction has been ongoing in the capital Uyo, but should the rural areas and villages now go to hell?
Yes I will admit, within the desolation that is Nigeria, while Akwa Ibom can be said to be above many states in many indices (a function of being fortunate to be an oil producing state), it is still a far cry from what is globally acceptable.
To add an airline which is most likely to divert scarce funds in a state which has the problems above is really worrisome.
This is moreso when existing airline still fly the various routes with empty seats.
I sincerely think an airline is a MISPLACEMENT of priorities and actually an ego trip.
But then, I am not from Akwa Ibom.
Just giving my two pence.
