In 2017 under the reign of Chief Rochas Okorocha, the people of Imo State were informed by the Government of its intention to purchase an aircraft for the State.
The said aircraft tagged “Imo Air’ was launched by the State’s government precisely on Tuesday, 24th January 2017, after it successfully landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri with passengers from Lagos State, at about 12:20pm (WAT). It’s noteworthy that the aircraft had a capacity of one hundred and forty (140) passengers.
Prior to its successful landing at the aforementioned airport, several Imolites and onlookers were of the notion that the awaited feat was likely to be a mirage. At last, their skepticism – which was natural and normal though – was proven wrong by the then Governor who was accompanied to the airport by various top government functionaries.
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It suffices to say that the above mentioned date ushered in a moment of ecstasy mixed with astonishment. The mixed feelings were obviously witnessed by anyone who could see through his or her eyes.
Therein, the governor made it known that the number of airlines the State had planned to kick-off with, regarding its interest in aviation business, was five. According to him, four additional aircrafts were on the way, and would soon be equally launched by the ‘Rescue Mission’ administration.
The then number one citizen went further to disclose that the airline business would temporarily be managed on behalf of the State by Dana Airline pending when the state would receive full license to run the business.
It would also interest you to note that the governor reiterated his administration’s readiness towards ensuring that the Imo airport was fully transformed to an International Cargo Airport in no distant time.
He said the April 17, 2017, being the date the State was targeting toward meeting the lofty demand, would never be shortchanged or compromised. Based on his speech, the initiative which was supposedly a Federal Government (FG) project was at the time duly funded by the Imo State government.
The then governor apparently proved to the general public, particularly those who understood what it takes to run a venture in the Aviation sector, that the business the FG had been afraid of going into could easily be initiated as well as managed by a state government.
Actualization of such a feat made Imo to be reckoned the first state across the federation to invest in aviation, especially at a period when every facet of the country was seemingly suffering from economic comatose.
This very accomplishment was strongly propelling my person to believe that one of the expensive statements made by the then Imo governor during the launch of the ‘Imo Air’ was something to behold.
Speaking at the event, Chief Okorocha wholly told the members of the press, and of course the entire public, that Imo – the Eastern Heartland – wasn’t affected by the ongoing recession, though that was seemingly an overstatement.
Funnily enough, this claim and supposed achievement came when the teeming workers in Imo State were being paid seventy per cent (70%) of their salaries, and there was a sixty per cent (60%) cut from the arrears of pension accruable to the state’s pensioners. In fact, as at then, the retirees were owed several years of pensions by the Government; the story hasn’t changed till date.
We must be mindful of how we speak in any public domain, so that we won’t end up in a crisis when the people are expected to rejoice. I must say unequivocally that such an utterance didn’t augur well for any civil servant or pensioner who was present at that epochal ceremony.
Lest I digress, as at then, I made the Imo State government realize that the aviation business was often characterized by several challenges and intrigues. Yes, a feat was recorded, but it’s imperative to acknowledge that sustaining it ought to be of paramount importance, both to the investor and the beneficiaries at large.
It’s not anymore news that lack of maintenance culture remains one of the major factors bedeviling contemporary Nigerian society, and Imo was no doubt exceptional.
To this end, I therefore advised the government in question to take the day-to-day management of the venture very seriously with a view to ensuring that the basic motive of establishing it was duly actualized.
Diversification was the only way out, and having thought it wise to include the aviation industry in the scheme of things, was arguably a laudable step. But it was pertinent to comprehend that if the government failed to do the needful in the long run, the lofty dream would definitely yield further crises rather than addressing the existing quagmire.
It’s appalling that as I write, no one could presently hear of anything pertaining to ‘Imo Air’ as an aircraft belonging to Imo State. Could it be that it flew away or vanished into thin air after the expiration of Okorocha’s tenure?