Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said that the International Terminal being built in the South East will be commissioned next year. The minister disclosed this on Friday when a delegation of the South East Progressive Forum paid him a courtesy in his office.

Sirika also promised that he would look into the conditions of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and effect repairs where necessary as soon as possible.

The minister called for all hands to be put together to allow aviation in South East zone to be well catered for in order for trade and commerce be promoted. He said aviation is key to the development of Eastern Nigeria as the area is landlocked. Sirika assured the delegation that the lighting equipment at the airports will be put in place.

“I cannot understand why airplanes cannot land at the airports because of poor visibility,” he said.

The minister said that partnership with the South East Progressive Forum is important as no one can ignore South East if desired change in aviation and the government in general has to be achieved.

Chairman of the South East Progressive Forum, Hon. Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi, had earlier congratulated the minister on his appointment. He explained that the forum is made up of politicians, technocrats, community leaders and businessmen and women with representation from all the wards in all the local government areas in South East Nigeria.

Hon. Amadi said the focus of the Forum is seeing to the development and progress of the South East region and Nigeria as a whole. He added that the forum has keyed into the Buhari administration’s vision for a new Nigeria.

The South East Progressives Forum’s chairman pointed out that airports in the zone require a lot more facilities. He spoke of the need for urgent repair of the runway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu and also appealed to the government to make the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri truly international.

•Photo shows Senator Sirika in a group photograph with officials of the South East Progressives Forum . . . yesterday in Abuja.