Yemisi Izuora
The Kwara State Government said the commencement of flights to Ilorin by Medview Airlines would create job opportunities and give more options to choose from people from neighbouring states like Oyo, Osun and Kogi.
The Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Shola Gold Isiaka, commended the carrier for extending its domestic flight operations to the state when he received officials of the Airline to his office after the airline’s inaugural flight to Ilorin.
The flight which had earlier landed at the airport at 8:50 am on Tuesday was received by aviation officials and other top dignitaries, including the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Afo Yahaya
Isiaka said the government had a very good relationship with the carrier in the past with regards to Hajj operations, adding that the commencement of scheduled flights would further cement the relationship.
According to him, the state has chosen the airline to airlift Kwara pilgrims to the 2017 Hajj due confidence reposed in the airline.
His words, “On behalf of the governor, Dr Abdulfatai Ahmed, we want to welcome you to Kwara State. We believe that your coming here will create employment opportunities for our people. It will give us more options to choose from and even people from our neighbouring states like Oyo, Osun and Kogi, will be able to benefit from your services. “
Speaking earlier, Chief Operating Officer of Medview Airline, Mr Lookman Animashaun, said the airline had been supportive of the Kwara State government, especially with regards to Hajj operations which began in 2007.
Animashaun said the airline had built a 12-bedroom guest house in Ilorin and also secured another office close to the airport for easy interface with passengers.
“We have been on the ground in Kwara State but to further demonstrate this, we have started regular scheduled flights to Ilorin which started this morning.
“Our intention is to connect Kwara State to Abuja and all the other routes on our network and we are optimistic that this will also be of benefit to the neighbouring states,” Animashaun said.
The airline chief said the airline would operate three flights weekly to and from Ilorin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
He said apart of connecting Ilorin to Lagos, passengers of the airline also would be able to connect to northern cities like Yola, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri via Abuja and passengers from Niger. Osun and Oyo will as well enjoy the airline presence in Ilorin.