Director General, CRGIA, Mr. William Archibong (left), with the Commissioner for Aviation, Capt. Inah Utum (Rtd) during the visit
By: Sylvia Okoi
A world class international airport will soon be built in Calabar, Cross River state just as the State Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), mulls partnership with the Aviation Ministry to optimize Cally Airline operations.
The Commissioner for Aviation, Capt. Inah Utum (Rtd) disclosed this recently following a meeting he had with the Director General, CRGIA, Mr. William Archibong who paid him a visit in his office in Calabar as they partner for a better service delivery, stressing the importance of infrastructural support for achieving the Ministry’s overall goals.
He announced that, “plans are in progress to build a 5000-hectare international airport, featuring a world-class aircraft servicing centre similar to Los Angeles Airport”.
Of this area, 2500 hectares will be used for runways, and the other 2500 hectares will be developed for high-profile real estate, Utum said.
He noted that the success of these ambitious projects relies heavily on strategic collaborations and the integration of advanced technologies such as Geographic Information System (GIS).
The Commissioner for Aviation who was responding to an earlier presentation by the Director General, CRGIA, expressed enthusiasm over the partnership and reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to delivering seamless air connectivity and world-class aviation services to the people of Cross River State and Africa at large.
Earlier , the Director General, CRGIA, declared intention of his agency to collaborate with the State’s Ministry of Aviation, leveraging the capabilities of its CRGIS project as a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the aviation sector within the State and increasing its competitiveness both nationally and globally.
According to the Director General, the purpose of this initiative is to significantly improve air travel infrastructure and streamline aviation services in the state, thereby establishing it among the top aviation service providers in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Highlighting the vital role of GIS, Archibong affirmed the agency’s commitment to leveraging this technology for aviation development through optimized flight paths, enhanced operational efficiency, and detailed infrastructure mapping to support planning and connectivity.
While maintaining that the agency’s services extend beyond land administration, the DG averred that the automation features of the GIS system “allow for the creation of an expansive and reliable database, which can be leveraged to support not just land management but also aviation-related planning and development”.
On the features of the new technology, Archibong stated that, “the implementation of GIS technology will ensure more precise navigation systems, better terrain analysis, and improved safety standards for Cally airline and the proposed Advanced Aircraft Servicing Centre”.
He assured the Commissioner of his agency’s unwavering support in achieving the state’s aviation vision and pledged that the agency would continue to provide technical expertise and data-driven insights to support key aviation projects, while also complementing the efforts of the Cross River State Aviation Projects Management and Delivery Team.
Experts believe that the collaboration between the two agencies signals a significant step towards modernizing Cross River State’s aviation infrastructure.