BY John Odhe, YENAGOA
There is excitement in the aviation sector in Bayelsa State as the governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, presented a 2026 model fire-fighting truck to the state-owned International Airport.
Diri presented the truck to Managing Director of the Bayelsa International Airport, Air Vice Marshal Nelson Calmday (retd) at the government house, Yenagoa.
The governor said the modern fire equipment was procured from Germany and that it will serve its purpose effectively being the best of its kind.
His words: “To those of us not technically inclined, we would have taken this to be some kind of war equipment.
“Seeing it from the ordinary eyes, you would not actually believe that it is a fire fighting equipment. I know we have the best of the state-of-the-art fire fighting truck.”
He expressed the confidence that the truck would enhance the operations of the airport.
Speaking after receiving the vehicle, Calmday said the airport lacked a water tanker used to fight fire and that a request was made to the governor, who went beyond what was requested to give them a 2026 modern fire truck.
He also stated that the airport had two fire tenders but one became unserviceable, hence the need for another one.
Calmday explained that the new equipment contains more fire fighting fumes and water than the normal water tanker and will be more effective.
On the second state-owned aircraft, he said that what was delaying its delivery was the procurement and installation of the main landing gear and that once that was done, it will be flown from Morocco to Nigeria.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Calmday added that the aircraft, an ATR 72-600, like the previous one, would soon be delivered to Pioneer Airlines, which operates the state’s planes.
