Uyo — AIRPORT traffic at the Ibom International Airport at Uyo, has witnessed a geometric rise with no fewer than 79,588 passengers undertaking commercial flights since the commencement of inaugural flight at the airport in September last year.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Social Re-Orientation, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, who revealed this in a chat with newsmen, said the opening of the airport was a blessing as it had broadened the economic horizon of Akwa Ibom and placed the state in a vantage position for business development and investment in the country.

He said landing of the inaugural flight in the airport in September 2009 signaled a speedy and steady growth which has increased commercial and tourism activities in the state, adding that more visitors had visited the state because of its direct link with other parts of the country.

Umanah noted: "The opening of the airport and the commencement of commercial flight have signalled what is set to become the biggest economy in the Gulf of Guinea", adding that the Akwa Ibom State government was fast tracking arrangements for international cargo flight operations which will spare Nigerian businessmen and women the agony of travelling only through Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The commissioner said the ongoing MRO project, the national hangar and the recent ground breaking of the permanent terminal building of the airport by President Goodluck Jonathan indicated that the airport was on course for international operations.

He said with the Ibom Tropicana Centre and Ibom Industrial City projects underway, the commercial aspect of the airport will be complimented as this would make the state a tourism hub and economic destination.

While noting that Dana Airlines and Aero were operating daily flights to the state, the Commissioner noted that the people of Akwa Ibom were now enjoying the benefit of good governance and democratic dividends courtesy of the people-oriented leadership of Chief Godswill Akpabio