Buhari to Inaugurate 3.5Km Runway Bayelsa Airport

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, President Muhammadu Buhari, will next month visit Bayelsa to inaugurate the state’s International Airport, which has a 3.5-kilometre long runway for large airplanes.

The airport, fully funded by the state government, officials told journalists during an inspection yesterday, would also begin to receive test flights from the 20th of August, before the official opening on August 27th by the president.

Contractors were seen putting finishing touches to the terminal building, control tower, hangar and fire bay at the airport during the inspection, which the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said would further open the state to the world.

“We are ready for the unveiling and of course no one is in any doubt that this will be one of the very best in this part of the world when open. This runway can take a big aircraft like the Boeing 737,” he said.

It was gathered that the project which was supposed to be a 50/50 effort between the state and federal government was solely shouldered by the Seriake Dickson administration when the government at the centre was no longer forthcoming concerning its own part of the arrangement.

The Commissioner along with journalists, who were taken round the facility by the Director of Bayelsa Airlines, Capt. Henry Ungbuku, noted that with the completion of the project, Bayelsa would not only become a business hub for surrounding states but also for some West African countries.

He added that the multi-billion naira airport would also create job opportunities for the people of the state, noting that most of the work at the facility already over 95 per cent, was done in a recession.

“There will be more business opportunities, more investment opportunities and more revenue. It is indeed a dream come true for us as a government. We are so excited about this project because of the massive benefits the state and our people will derive from it.