Qatar Airways has made a maiden landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The airplane, QR 1433, (Boeing 787-8) Dreamliner from Doha, arrived at exactly 11:18 am at the international wing of the airport on Thursday.
The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, received the flight which brought the Nigerian ambassador to Qatar, Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Harry-Banigo said, “This is happening at a very auspicious time when we in Rivers State are witnessing a total infrastructural renaissance, we are building ten flyovers, six has been commissioned three will be commissioned next month and one next year”.
She said Qatar Airways’ choice of Port Harcourt as a destination would further enhance the economic activities within the region, increase the economy of our nation and bring in foreign investments into the country.
The Deputy Governor further expressed delight to officially receive the inaugural flight and thanked the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria and Qatar Airways for choosing Port Harcourt as a destination of choice.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed said this event would facilitate closer ties, mutual trust and trigger areas of interest between Nigeria and Qatar, noting that these connections have the potential to push the frontiers of bilateral relations towards more robust cooperation in oil and gas.
Also speaking, the Qatar Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Ali Al-Hajri said the event is a bridge between Rivers State, Nigeria and the World through the Middle East, noting that it was an important effort that would make Nigeria the largest market in Africa.
Earlier, Qatar Airways Vice President Africa, Hendrik du Perez described Port Harcourt as an important economic hub in Nigeria and expressed the hope that the new flight would link Rivers State to the world’s financial market and Petro Chemical hub.
