By James Overly

Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah has signed a contract with the American logistics firm DynCorp International to build a $300 million international cargo airport and an aircraft maintenance facility that will serve as a pillar of Governor Victor Attah’s economic makeover of the state and improve the safety of Nigerian aviation.

The new facility, the first in West Africa, is expected to serve the large aircraft maintenance needs of as many as 33 African countries, as well as meet the region’s growing air cargo demands.

Aircraft maintenance has long been problematic in Africa. Presently, African airlines conduct maintenance operations in Europe and the U.S., and some work can be done in South Africa and Ethiopia. The new airport will provide African airlines with cost-effective alternatives for both regular fleet maintenance and major maintenance.

"Our feasibility study indicates a strong market," says Project Coordinator Ime Ekanem.
While preliminary and planning work already has begun, a formal groundbreaking ceremony is planned for March 3. Construction of the airport will employ about 11 expatriates and 340 Nigerians.
The $300 million project will be capable of simultaneously accomodating repair for the likes of two 747s. Such capacity is important in today’s aviation maintaince market because a 747 is larger than the newer 757s and 767s.

The first aircraft are expected to fly in when Phase I is completed this December.

A `must do’

The project is the inspiration of Governor Attah, who has called it a "must do" project. The airport is a key step in Governor Attah’s ambitious development plan for the state, and is seen of fundamental importance to developing key sectors of the economy such as tourism.

An aircraft maintenance facility is also expected to help Nigeria shore up its aircraft safety record. Following the two recent Nigerian domestic airline crashes last October and December, President Olusegun Obasanjo called for urgent reform of the aviation sector.

George Baber, DynCorp’s general manager for the project, says the Nigerian federal government has been enthusiastic about the repair facility. "The minister for aviation has declared it ‘The National Hangar,’" Mr. Baber says.

The facility will be capable of all levels of aircraft maintenance, including literally rebuilding an aircraft from the frame up. Dennis Chagnon, spokesman for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said that such a facility would be top of the line, but also would require intensive and comprehensive training to certify technicians who do the sophisticated repair.

"We have been working with Nigeria for several years, and have an intensive program to help Nigeria and other countries examine every aspect of their aircraft safety programs," Mr. Chagnon says.
Management of the new facility and the master aviation mechanics initially will come from the United States. However, the intention is to replace all expatriates with local residents over time.

Mr. Baber says DynCorp already is discussing training and educational requirements for the certification process with the local university and technical schools in Uyo, Akwa Ibom’s capital city, as well as with Nigeria’s civil aviation authorities.

"Our intention is to meet not only Nigerian standards, but full ICAO and FAA standards as well," says Mr. Baber. "It is necessary for an aircraft maintenance facility to meet U.S. FAA standards if the serviced aircraft is to fly to the U.S."

While Nigerian federal authorities have met the project enthusiastically, some local residents who will be displaced by the airport have not been as pleased (see related News Watch article).

"We have had some demonstrations, and we and the state government have followed a very democratic process to resolve them," Mr. Baber says. "Governor Attah has put some of his most senior people in charge of this project, and we have so far managed to settle differences peacefully."