Bayelsa Airport Ready as SAHCOL Inspects Facilities

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Skyway Aviation Handling Limited (SAHCOL), an aviation ground handling service provider, yesterday inspected the Bayelsa Cargo International Airport ahead the formal inauguration of the facility by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Former Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the company, who is now a Director, Dr. Olu Owolabi, in a chat with journalists in Ammasoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government, expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the airport, noting that SAHCOL was ready to partner the Bayelsa government.

Describing the facility as ‘marvellous’ he added that the airport was a 30-40 years investment which would continue to generate income and create thousands of jobs for the people of Bayelsa state.

“On behalf of SACHOL, our team is here to see what is going on, we should commend the Governor. This is what people will enjoy for the next 20, 30, 40 years and above. It is a massive set up.

“ The Governor will do his best but there is still more to do to implement his dream. It is a good dream and I’m very impressed. Don’t forget that we have the best warehouse in Africa.

“Everybody is gearing up now for export; food export, crops and every other thing. And I think he (Dickson) has started well. For the Bayelsa people, you can imagine after the whole thing has been completed, how many Bayelsans will be employed here”, he noted.

He said he was in the state to check facilities available and to be able to locate where the cargo warehouse would be situated.

He added: “ The cargo warehouse itself is a village on its own. Go to Dubai, London, all the places when you ask for cargo building it is a village of its own just like Lagos. It is a village of its own; and then you have the passenger terminal, you have the international terminal coming up. So, it’s a good dream.”

In her comments, the Director-General, Bayelsa Investment and Promotion Agency, Patience Ranami-Abah, urged investors to take advantage of the airport facility.

“This airport holds tremendous opportunities. This is not just about cargo , there will be airplane hangars, maintenance, supply opportunities, logistics, retail and even hotel facilities around here.