The 27th Enugu International Trade Fair kicked off yesterday with a call on the Federal Government to make the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu more viable.
President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, Rev. Surveyor Ugochukwu Chime, who made the call in his opening address at the commencement of the fair, said making the Airport more viable would improve the socio-economic development of the country.
Chime also called on the Federal Government through its relevant authorities to grant necessary permit and approval for Cargo flight by Ethiopian Airline into the Airport, noting that people of the South East involved a lot in importation of goods.
“May I crave your indulgence to use this opportunity to appeal to the relevant authorities of the Federal Government and concerned agencies to support the viability and great potentials the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu offers in the socio-economic development of the nation,” Chime appealed.
The ECCIMA president, however, acknowledged the presence of Ethiopian Airline which he said had made Enugu their international route.
He, however, wished that other international airlines would join suit to make the airport more viable.
He suggested that the government could enhance the viability of the airport by ensuring that Customs and Immigration officials working in the Airport desist from acts capable of undermining the potentials of the Airport.
Chime used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to make available adequate fund for direct award of contract to a competent contractor to complete the development of the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex in line what obtained Kaduna and Lagos.
The ECCIMA president equally used the opportunity to condemn the high electricity tariff regime, which he said was crippling economic development.
He hammered particularly on Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, which he said seemed to charge higher tariff than other EDCs. – Daily Post.
