Port Harcourt—The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has Friday urged oil companies doing business in the Niger Delta region to patronize the new commercial route to the Bayelsa International Airport.
In a report by Blueprint Newspaper, the IYC President, Peter Timothy Igbifa, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the inaugural commercial flight to the airport is historic and commendable.
He urged oil companies to assist in the development and growth of the new airport by encouraging their employees to fly the route.
Igbifa, who was aboard the flight among many dignitaries said that “the airport would open Bayelsa to the world and bring the world to Bayelsa.”
According to him, the airport would put the state and by extension the Ijaw nation on the world map.
The IYC President also thanked the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Seriake Dickson for initiating and completing the project before leaving office.
“History was made in Bayelsa State, the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation, on Wednesday following the landing of a commercial flight, owned and operated by the United Nigerian Airline at the International Airport located in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
“By this singular act, our state has expressed its commitment to creating enabling and easy environment for businesses and other commercial activities to thrive in Bayelsa.
“The council congratulates our Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for achieving this feat.
We thank his Special Adviser on Investment, Jonathan Obuebite , Director of Protocol, Mr. Goodluck, the entire government team and the good people of Bayelsa State for their commitment to actualizing this feat.
“We call on oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region especially Bayelsa oil field operators to support the efforts of the state governor by creating a Logistics Base in Bayelsa International Airport,” he added.
Igbifa further urged the Bayelsa State government to invest in the aviation sector by sourcing funds to float an airline that would help maximize the tourism potential of the state.
