The approval was granted during the State Executive Council meeting for the month of August 2024, presided over by the state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, at the EXCO Chambers, Government House, Uyo.
Briefing Government House correspondents after the meeting, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, said the new two CRJ jets, just like the recently received Airbus 220-300, were not part of the aircraft ordered in 2021 out of which only one has so far been delivered.
He explained that the need for the fleet expansion was due to Ibom Air’s decision to cover some low-traffic routes that required slimmer, more economical aircraft than those used in heavy traffic routes like Uyo-Abuja-Lagos.
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He stated that while Exco acknowledged the excellent performance of Ibom Air, the government urged the management of the airline not to rest on its oars but continue to do more to consolidate and maintain its leading position.
The commissioner added that the Governor-in-Council, having received briefings from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, had restated the administration’s resolve to fulfill its campaign promises, in line with the ARISE Agenda.
The governor, according to Udoh, directed the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga, to ensure that all contractors get set to return to site as the rains begin to recede.
Udoh disclosed that Council also approved new road construction contracts as part of efforts to boost economic growth of the state.
On culture and tourism, Udoh said: “Exco received briefing on plans by the Ministry of Culture and tourism to increase in-bound footfall into the state in the fourth quarter of the year in addition to the preliminary plans for another December to remember in Akwa Ibom, featuring Christmas Unplugged 2.0 and Christmas Carol season 17.”
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This, he explained, will be done through a series of events starting from the commemoration of the World Tourism Day 2024 in September.
