“Abians Are In A Hurry To Have An Airport Of Their Own”, Gov Tells FG

Suleiman Anyalewechi.

The Abia State Government has expressed its readiness to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government to give the State a befitting airport .

Governor Alex Otti, who gave the assurance while receiving a Federal Government delegation which was on an inspection tour of the site for the construction of an airstrip for the State on Wednesday May 22, 2024, noted that even though the 2024 Federal budget captured it as an airstrip, the Abia State Government has decided to partner with the Federal Authorities to upscale it to a full airport.

In a press release issued on Thursday, May 23,  by his Media Aide, Kazie Uko, the Abia State Governor added  that there is no major difference between an airstrip and full airport.

“First of all, I will like to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consenting to set up an airstrip in Abia and for also including it in the 2024  budget as approved.

“Even if the money there may not complete it,  but a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. So, we are grateful to him.

“We want to, also, say a big thank you to my friend and brother, the Hon. Minister  of Aviation, Festus Keyamo for all what he has been doing to ensure that this becomes a reality .

“We are always on the line discussing, coming up with ideas on how to fast track this project.

“I want to thank you (the delegation team), for, also, joining us to be in a hurry to deliver this project. Once we had agreed ,we started looking for suitable land because that is the most important in an airport project.

“There were a few places that were mapped out earlier, but when we  went on physical inspection, we found out that some of these places do not have enough space, or are not properly located for the airport.

“One other important thing about airport is location ,.So we now zeroed in on the place that you are looking at ,at the moment . We did not just only identify that location, we went the extra mile of identifying the owners of the land  because it is a large parcel of land. We have started engaging with them.” Governor stated.

The Abia state Government assured the Federal Government delegation of its  readiness to see to the actualization of the airport project in record time,noting that Abians are in a hurry to have an airport of their own.

He promised that the State Government will lead from  “the build up to the construction of the  airport to its very  completion and  if any thing gets delayed ,then it is because it is coming from the centre. But for us we are in a hurry”.

Governor Otti, informed that in its determination to see the airport project through, the State Government has entered into an understanding and partnership with Access Bank Plc with a view to ensuring that lack of finance does not stall the project.

“I have suggested to the CEO of Access Bank that the team needs to sit down with him so that we can have them on board early enough.

“Our attitude is not to borrow until it becomes absolutely necessary. If they had also gotten involved in one and delivered it, then we can learn from them the mistakes they made in those ones and then build on the good things that we can pick up ” the Governor noted .

The Head of the Federal Government team Dr Emmanuel Mmeribeole who is, also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, said they are in the State to inspect and ensure that land and location approved for the project are in alignment with regulatory requirements for the siting of an airport .

He assured of the commitment of the Federal Government to deliver the project in record time, hence the  visit by the team made up of all the representatives of all the various Aviation Agencies responsible for approvals and supervision of airports in the country to meet required standards.