The Governor Douye Diri administration, on Tuesday, recorded another landmark feat with the inaugural flight of one of its two newly acquired aircraft landing at its airport.

The ATR-72/600 aircraft, which took off from the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 09:30 a.m. with about 50 passengers and crew on board, including Diri, the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah, members of the state’s National Assembly Caucus, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Sam Ogbuku, President, Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Ben Okaba, and the National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dr Boladei Igali, among others, touched down at the Bayelsa Airport at 10:40 a.m. amid jubilation by a mammoth crowd.

The aircraft received the traditional water cannon salute on arrival from the fire trucks at the airport. The governor described the celebration as historic, saying it underscored his administration’s commitment to fulfil its promise to connect the people of the state to other parts of the country and the world by air.

The Bayelsa helmsman also stated that the inauguration of the aircraft was a moment of deep gratitude and celebration for every Bayelsan, as it marked a decisive step in strengthening the state’s aviation capacity and expanding its economic horizons.