As Imo launches an airline amid recession

The last time I checked, Imo State could proudly boast of an airline. The said aircraft tagged “Imo Air’ was launched by the state’s government ably led by Governor Rochas Okorocha penultimate week, precisely on Tuesday 24th January 2017, after it successfully landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri with passengers from Lagos State, at about 12:20pm.
It’s noteworthy that the aircraft has a capacity of one hundred and forty (140) passengers. Prior to its successful landing at the aforementioned airport, several Imolites were of the notion that the awaited feat was likely to be a mirage. At last, their skepticism – which was natural and normal though – was proven wrong by the governor. The mixed feelings were obviously witnessed by anyone who could see through his/her eyes.
Therein, the governor made it known that the number of airlines the state had planned to kick-off with, regarding its interest in aviation business, was five. According to him, four additional aircrafts were on the way. He went further to disclose that the airline business would temporarily be managed on behalf of the state by Dana Airline.
It would as well interest you to note that the governor reiterated his administration’s readiness towards ensuring that the Imo airport is fully transformed to an International Cargo Airport. Based on his speech, the initiative which was supposedly a Federal Government (FG) project was at the moment duly funded by the Imo State government.
Stating that Governor Okorocha’s aim of investing in the aviation industry is a welcome development ought to be described as understatement. The governor has conspicuously  proven to the public, particularly those who understand what it takes to run a venture in the said sector, that the business the FG had been afraid of going into could easily be initiated as well as managed by a state government. Actualization of such a feat has made Imo to be reckoned the first state across the federation to invest in aviation, especially at a period when every facet of the country is seemingly suffering from economic comatose.
This very accomplishment is strongly propelling my person to believe that one of the expensive statements made by the Imo governor during the launch of the ‘Imo Air’ was something to behold. Speaking at the event, Gov. Okorocha wholly told the members of the press, and of course the entire public, that Imo – the Eastern Heartland – wasn’t affected by the ongoing recession that is ostensibly nearing depression. That, to me, was indeed an overstatement.
How could the governor claim that Imo was not suffering from recession while the teeming workers in the state are being paid seventy per cent (70%) of their salaries, and there was recently a sixty per cent (60%) cut from the arrears of pension accruable to the state’s pensioners? We must be mindful of how we speak in any public domain, so that, we won’t end up generating crisis when the people are expected to rejoice.
Though the government had really tried to pay the workers’ salaries till date as well as cleared the backlog of pensions owed the teeming senior citizens, it’s worth noting that these stewards and retirees, as the case may be, were not being paid as they were meant to. And the cut in the said payments was solely occasioned by the lingering economic mayhem that’s apparently ubiquitous. So, coming out to tell the public that the state was not negatively affected by the unbearable economic condition was not unlike creating a paradoxical scene.
Lest I digress, this critique is mainly informed by the need to let the Imo State government realize that aviation business is often characterized by several challenges and intrigues. Yes, a feat has obviously been recorded, but it’s imperative to acknowledge that sustaining it ought to be of paramount importance, both to the investor and the beneficiaries at large. It’s not anymore news that lack of maintenance culture remains one of the major factors bedevilling the contemporary Nigerian society, and Imo is no doubt not exceptional.
To this end, I would advise the government in question to take the day-to-day management of the venture very seriously with a view to ensuring that the basic motive of establishing it is duly actualized. Diversification is presently the only way out, and having thought it wise to include the aviation industry in the scheme of things, is arguably a laudable step; but it’s pertinent to comprehend that if we failed to do the needful in the long run, the lofty dream would definitely yield further crises rather than addressing the existing quagmire. Think about it!