By Dipo Olowookere
Imo State government has entered into a partnership agreement with Dana Air to launch its own airline called Imo Air.
The venture was flagged off on Tuesday in Owerri, the state capital amid pomp and pageantry.
Governor of the state, Mr Rochas Okorocha, who witnessed this, explained that his administration partnered Dana Air to operate the airline because the state government was yet to have the license to operate full-blown airline.
The 140-seater Imo Air plane made its first landing at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri yesterday with its first set of passengers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Okorocha pledged that the state government will continue to maintain the airline and grow it to become one of the best in the country.
“This is a happy moment in the state. The aim of going into the air business is because I want to drive traffic to Imo State as Owerri is genuinely becoming the fastest developing city outside Abuja and Lagos,” Mr Okorocha said.