By Abasifreke Effiong

Ibom Airline’s success story within 100 days of operations in the Nigerian Airspace has spin a new positive perspective on the industrialisation agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration.

The visibility, excellent operations as well as testimonies of good services rendered by the Akwa Ibom State government-owned airliners are significantly pushing renowned, unapolgetic pessimists and opponents of the government towards a point of acceptance that the Governor Emmanuel’s industrialisation programme is real.

Before the loud success story of Ibom Air, trying to convince sceptics – particularly those who are under the strong influence of a different political party as the government in power in Akwa Ibom State – that Governor Udom Emmanuel administration has made any significant achievements in its industrialisation drive was difficult, notwithstanding that at least 15 new industries have been established and there are evidence that they are manufacturing.

Party politics, differences in political opinion and experiences of bad governance in the past have thrown up a thick veil of doubt, disbelief and mistrust between the government and the governed in Akwa Ibom State.

Before 2015, citizens of the State had gotten used to extralarge promises from government, which the promiser neither intended nor had the business capacity to keep. For instance, in 2011, the Governor of the State then, promised to build 31 industries; he could not build a single one after all, despite the huge cash fall.

So, at inception of the Udom Emmanuel administration, many people thought the industrialisation of the State promised by the governor, was simply a diversory tactics. Their perception was hinged on a straightforward but illogical premise that Udom Emmanuel can not achieve with less resources what his predecessor could not achieve with much more cash. Mind you, Udom Emmanuel resumed office as governor in a time Nigeria had plunged into a deep economic recession, with severe concomitant decline in crude oil production, revenues, and foreign exchange earnings.

The weak and depressing economic reality of that period and the distractions of the convoluted election petitions the governor faced would have been enough excuses for the Emmanuel’s administration to forfeit its campaign promises – forego the industrialisation agenda like the preceding administration did. Rather, in that deep recession, the State attracted the second highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This was manifest in the opening of the Jubilee syringe factory, the Metering solution plant, and most recently, the all-purpose flour mill.

However, despite these specific and other achievement, the feats in industrialisation made by the Udom Emmanuel administration failed to resonate with the people. But most recently, the success of Ibom Air alone, is tearing down that thick veil of disbelief.

When Governor Emmanuel launched the Ibom Airline with three aircraft on June 7, 2019, at the Victor Attah International Airport, it was tedious to persuade those people who differ in political party with the governor to accept the fact that the three airliners in the Ibom Air fleet were for genuine business purposes, not politics; and that the Ibom Air Company Limited is owned by the Akwa Ibom State. The government had had to answer questions of ownership of the airline a thousand and one times at press conferences; each time, it was like preaching to a deaf. One of the reasons was that the airline was born in the eve of the 2019 general elections and facilitated by a governor who was anxiously seeking a re-election.
Ibom Airline started commercial operations on June 7 2019, flying passengers from Uyo to Lagos and Abuja.

On Tuesday, 8th September 2019, the airline marked its 100 days of commercial flight operations in Nigeria with a record of airlifting 50,000 passengers. At a brief ceremony, Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, said the company is excited to mark its 100th day in the nation’s aviation market.

“We are excited to carry our 50,000th passenger within three months of operations…we are thankful for the support of our passengers and thoroughly excited about the future.”

The future is that, Ibom Air is launching its operations on the Lagos- Abuja route on September 25.
Truly, Akwa Ibom people are excited about Ibom Air. This one investment is spinning a new perspective from members of the opposition party in the State, about Governor Emmanuel’s effort in making Akwa Ibom an industrial hub within the Gulf of Guinea.

A few of the perspectives on Ibom Air from members of the APC in the State may suffice here.

Elder Enefiok Ekefre, a caucus member of the APC in an interview on Thursday 19th September, 2019 shortly after he alighted from an Ibom Air flight from Abuja said:
“Ibom Air is one of the good things Udom has done. Governance is not just about renovating schools and constructing road, those are part of the social contracts; it’s about innovations, building a strong private sector. And, that’s what Udom is doing and I am expecting more”.

In a short piece entitled “Flying Ibom Air”, Anietie Usen, a former aviation correspondent with Newswatch Magazine, shared his experience flying Ibom Air.
He wrote: “In 44 years of flying around the world, with commercial airlines, private jets, military carriers (C-130), this is the newest and freshest aircraft, I have flown in Nigeria.”

“My first surprise was the freshness of Ibom Air aircraft: very fresh, very clean, very clear leg room, very comfortable seats, feels like ‘tear-rubber, very friendly crew and uniquely packaged and presented snacks in State colours of orange, green and white.”
“…just as scheduled, at exactly 9:00am, Ibom Air taxied off the Apron unto the runway. Phew! It was seamless. Take off: smooth. Flight proper: smooth. Landing: smooth.”

Also, Imaobong Akpan, after travelling on Ibom Airliner with her sibling, said:
“While we keep asking for Transparency in government deals, let’s invest in ours for home profits. I and kid brother patronized IbomAir today. Take-off and landing very smooth. Flight generally comfortable. Travelling to Lagos or Abuja? I recommend Ibom Air.”

The APC led the strongest opposition against Governor Udom Emmanuel’s re-election in March this year; yet, its bonafide members, Elder Ekefre, Anietie Usen and Imaobong Akpan and scores of other uncounted, have dispassionately applauded the drive, vision, novelty and success of Governor Emmanuel’s administration’s investment in the aviation sector.

The success of Udom’s industrialisation drive is forcing on, little by little, a new economic and political narrative in the State.