Imo state government floats new airline

[V1_RHOT8]

Truth or fiction?

News -- Imo State govt floats airline, purchases three aircrafts (http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jan/4/13.html)

Determined to widen the economic scope of Imo State, the state government has concluded plans to float a new airline. The state governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, disclosed this while briefing members of the public during year 2009 Stakeholders Meeting at the weekend. Named "Clean and Green", otherwise known as "Air Midwest Limited," he disclosed that three aircrafts have been purchased to kick start the operations from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, adding that government would work in partnership with other investors.
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Ohakim said the state government was ready to take over the airport from the Federal Government without concession because the latter was not ready to improve the airport since its take over many years ago. Announcing that the airline would take off in February, Ohakim noted that the state government had floated an airline in the past, known as Airwest Limited." The venture, he noted, would stimulate the economy of the state and provide jobs for the people. He said that the state government had applied to the Presidency to give back to the state the airport, because despite the huge amount of money the people of the state had invested to build the airport, no significant facilities were yet to be fixed in the area. The airport is one of the 21 airports in the country.

[jagunmolu]

This airline has been around for donkey ages looking for a lifeline,rumour has it that it was initially bankrolled by the erstwhile PDP strong man from EDO north,Is this a party buyover or lifeline?I'm aware that some good and not so good aviation wannabes were involved in the earlier AIRMIDWEST project.lets hope this is for real though,wish them all the BEST;)

[flareout BC]

Perhaps reflecting the Edo heritage of its backers, Air Midwest have since 2006 maintained a comfortable suite at Benin Airport. It's currently headed by a veteran of Associated and Slok. Insiders insist the company actually negotiated a B735 and possibly a Fokker F-50 in '07, but have all along been victims of the excess baggage of said politico in the board. The choice of Ikedi Ohakim gives the show much credibility, as the Imo CEO is noted for a dynamism matched only by the likes of Duke and Saraki {Saraki says he's bringing a Helo school to Kwara, backed by Gulf interests}