Port Harcourt — Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi yesterday urged the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to help the State recover the N2 billion it gave as loan to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt International Airport.

Amaechi, who noted that work on the airport was yet to be completed said there was need for the Federal Government to return the money since the state could not carry the burden of handling the duties of government at the federal level.

He regretted that the Federal Government was not according the state the priority it ought to especially in provision of infrastructure notwithstanding the important role the state played in sustaining the economy of the country.

He urged the committee to assist the state recover the money which he planned to channel into to development projects, adding, "We plead with you to assist the state government recover the money from the Federal Government".

The governor pleaded with the government to ensure that the runway lightings were installed on time to enable the resumption of full operations in the only international airport in the entire South-south and South-east regions.

Chairman of the committee, Hon Bethel Amadi, said they were in the state to assess the level of completion of projects in the state in accordance with its oversight functions.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of work done but particularly thanked the state government for installing a screening machine at the executive lounge of the airport.