- Shareef claims 70 percent of the work on the new terminal was completed by the current government.
- He said President Muizz changed the whole scenario of the project during the one and a half years he’s been in charge.
Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, CEO of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), has said that President Muizzu has proven to be an expert in making into reality, the plan of the airport terminal he drew-up during his tenure as Minister. Shareef made the remarks while addressing the grand opening of the New Passenger Terminal of Velana International Airport, Saturday night.
Shareef said when he was appointed to the post of MD of MACL in 2023, he faced blankness in every sense of the word. He said although boundary walls as well as roofing of the terminal was completed, he faced many challenges as there were tremendous amount of work to be done. Shareef claimed only 30 percent of the work of the terminal was completed when the current government came into office, and that 70 percent work were done by this government.
Shareef noted that there was no electricity power network, no sewerage or drainage system and even no Head of Stand Road, up until 2023.
Noting that the project also faced financial difficulties at the time, he said the tasks were mad easy after a shrewd hero of a leader took up the challenge by joining hands with them. He said from then onwards, President Muizzu, whom he described as an “expert captain”, very cleverly made into reality, the plan or blue print he had drawn-up while he was Minister.
He said this major developmental venture had taken 10 long years to be completed to a fraction of the work, but that after the clever “Captain” had spearheaded, the project was fully completed within one and a half years.
Shareef noted that Airport site was one of the first places Dr Muizz visited after being elected, even before being sworn-in, and guided him and the staff like a father would guide his off springs, stating it is his wish to make the people happy being able to use the new terminal.
MACL’s Managing Director in his address also thanked all the staff of the company for making such valuable contributions towards the early completion of the new terminal
