Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Wednesday lauded Ibom Air inaugural commercial flight to Bayelsa International Airport.
Diri said in Yenagoa that the development would strengthen economic cooperation between Bayelsa and other states in the southern part of the country.
The governor said the Ibom Air operations would complement the operations of the United Nigeria Airline (UNA) in the state.
According to him, before the coming of Ibom Air, the UNA had been overwhelmed by passengers. He urged residents of the state to have a good experience by patronizing the new airline.
He hailed the administration of his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Governor Udom Emmanuel, for floating the airline, adding that the exemplary leadership of Emmanuel had changed narrative of the South-South to a developed region.
He called on governors of the region to forge closer ties to better the lot of the people.
“It gives me joy to welcome an airline from the South-South state of Akwa Ibom.
“The South-South has been in the discourse for years in terms of development and resource control. But our story is changing.
“Today, we have an international airport. I acknowledge my predecessor, who was visionary in the construction of this airport.
“What we are doing here is historic. Last year, we were also here in large numbers to welcome the UNA first commercial flight to Bayelsa and this airport was ecstatic.
“As a government, we will be glad to have more flights coming to Yenagoa,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, George Uriesi, said the development was a new vista in the relationship between Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.
Uriesi promised to deliver the airline’s top class services to the people of the state.
Bayelsa Commissioner for Transport, Grace Ekiotene, thanked the Bayesa government and the people of the state for making the inaugural commercial flight possible. nan.
