“Calm Down, We Will Take Care Of You”, Governor Otti Assures Abia Airport Land Owners

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured that all land owners in the Abia Airport project will be adequately compensated.

This is just as the Federal Government and the Abia State Government on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 flagged off the construction of the airport project in Nsulu ,Isiala Ngwa North Local Council of the State.

The Source reports that stiff resistance from the host communities of Nsulu ,and  environs almost overshadowed the essence of the landmark airport project

The host communities had, in the last few weeks, mounted strong opposition to the Government’s acquisition of large expanse of their ancestral farm lands

Their resistance as it were, was anchored on their argument that same Abia State authorities had disposed them of a large portion of farm lands for the same project under the immediate Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration.

Their leaders had insisted that Government return the earlier acquired land before another will be given and or the authorities should site the airport at the already acquired site.

Pockets of protest matches by the host communities and accusations of Abia State authorities  clamp down on some vocal voices through the instrumentality of security agencies had blighted the euphoria of the launch of  the project.

However, a fragile truce was last weekend brokered by the Lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North/South in the green chamber of the National Assembly, Hon Ginger Onwusibe .

He told the host communities,  who are part of his constituents to hold him personally to accountable if the Abia State Government goes back on its promise of compensating them .

The trouble-shooting efforts  came on the heels of alleged Government arrest and detention of some prominent opposition voices from the host communities, including a veteran political actor Dr Max Nduaguibe.

At the Flag off ceremony, Governor Otti assured that none of the original and genuine owners of the airport project land will be short-changed.

“Let me, on this note, thank the good people of Ubaha ,Umuaala ,Ikputu, Umuosu ,Umuezeukwu , Umuode and Umuomaiyainta Nbawsi for their generosity and support for this project.

“May I quickly informed you that we have started preparations for the payment of compensation to genuine landowners.

“We are a compassionate administration. So even when the law has vested ownership of land on the State Government ,we will still go ahead to pay very reasonable compensation to those whose lands are used for projects that are geared towards the greater public good..

“At any rate, the most important fact is that like the State Government, the land owners in these communities are also investors in opportunities.

“Having joined us in the faith that this would be a profitable investment, one that will create jobs for our children and opportunities for local entrepreneurs .

“I can readily assure you today that you shall reap the full benefits of your investments in the fullness of time.

“May I again assure you that this is our collective Project ,and we have a responsibility to work together to actualize it.

“We have activated a multi-level support structure to be coordinated from the office of the Chief of Staff, who is not only from this community ,but is also an anointed man of God to respond to your enquiries .

“The coordinating team shall be populated by senior officials of the Government ,the contractors and, of course, the representatives of the land owners.

“One thing you can take to the bank is that no one will be cheated”, Governor Otti assured .

The groundbreaking ceremony was jointly performed by the Minister of Aviation ,Festus Keyamo and Governor Otti.

The project which is essentially Federal Government’s is however being supported by the Abia State Government to be upscaled from an airstrip to a full airport .