The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed allegations that it prevented other airline operators from doing business at the state-owned Victor Attah International Airport.

Ibom Air has been the sole airline operator in the state since its inception in 2019, prompting speculation that it enjoyed a monopoly.

At a ministerial press briefing at Government House, Uyo, on Monday, the Honorary Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno on Aviation and Airport Development, Engineer Uwem Ekanem, said the state had opened up the aviation sector to other airlines.

He said the government had begun talks with ValueJet for operations in the state, while arrangements had been concluded for Air Peace to commence flight operations on October 23.

“The speculation that Ibom Air has a monopoly is wrong. We are in talks with ValueJet, and hopefully, it will come in.

“Air Peace, on its part, will commence flight operations at the Victor Attah International Airport on October 23. This will provide other airlines with the opportunity to make inroads into the state’s aviation hub,” he said.

Meanwhile, the supervising commissioner for the Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Emem Almond Bob, said a lack of sufficient investment had delayed the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project.

He said that although Akwa Ibom State had secured the necessary approvals from the Federal Government, it was still working to attract investors to enable the project to commence.

“The feasibility study for the Ibom Deep Seaport has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). What this means is that all the approvals have been secured, but we have been telling Akwa Ibom people that the Ibom Deep Seaport is not a project that can be embarked upon by the Akwa Ibom State Government alone.

“We need investors, and that is why you have been seeing the governor travel to engage with prospective investors. The discussions are ongoing, and we are still engaging investors,” he said.