Akwa Ibom employs South African expatriate Johanna Swiegers to manage its airport

AKWA Ibom State government has taken the dramatic step of appointing South African expatriate Johanna Swiegers as the managing director of its international airport as part of a drive to get the facility to function properly.

 

Opened on September 23, 2009, the Akwa Ibom located at Okobo, serves the capital, Uyo and other neighbouring towns in the state, including Oron, Ikot Ekpene and Eket. Its first scheduled passenger service commenced on December 2, 2009, when Arik Air began offering flights to Abuja and Lagos, while the second construction phase began in 2012 and includes an international terminal and additional taxiways.

 

Keen to make the airport one that matches international standards, the Akwa Ibom State government has decided to appoint a world class manager to run the facility. Ms Swiegers has been employed on a three-year contract to restructure the airport to meet required purposes, reduce maintenance costs and increase revenue.

 

Her three-year deal which took effect from October 1, according to the state’s commissioner of special duties Engineer Etido Inyang, is aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating total reliance on the state government. He added that for no, the airport relies on the state government to meet its increasing expensive running costs.

 

Engineer Inyang said: “The state government wants the airport to be properly positioned to provide world class airport services and internationally compliant operational safety and security. We want the team to develop a crop of talented Akwa Ibomites to become capable and competent hands to manage the airport at the highest international standards into the future after the three-year restructuring exercise.”

 

He explained that the choice of Ms Swiegers stems from her vast experience which covered over 30 years in aviation management industry, having worked in several countries. She has worked in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa and Namibia and is an International Civil Aviation Organisation certified airport inspector, auditor and trainer.

 

She is to be assisted by Aerospace Management Services Nigeria and other specialist airport management consultants including Captain Mfon Udom, George Uriesi and Affiong Egbedina, among others. Her first assignment will be to advise the state government on the restructuring process with reference to matters related to organisation, operational efficiency, cost reduction, revenue generation and a review of the airport master plan.