Ebonyi Airport Not For Church Service – Govt

By Suleiman  Anyalewechi

The Ebonyi State Government has taken a serious exception to insinuations and outright  claims in some quarters that the Chuba Okadigbo Airport has now become a faith-based facility.

The State authorities noted that the  State- constructed Airport was fully in use during the recent burial ceremony for the first Civilian Governor of Abia state, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu

The Source reports that the social media has been awash with reports suggesting that the facility built with several billions of tax payers’ funds by the immediate past administration headed by Dave Umahi, now Federal Works Minister, is being used by Churches for services due to inactivities.

But in a statement issued by Dr Ngozi Obichukwu, Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology on Sunday, November 10, 2024, the Ebonyi State authorities insisted that every relevant section of the Airport, including the departure lounge is functioning optimally.

Further speaking, the Commissioner informed that the fact of the situation remains that staff of the Aviation Ministry and other industry operatives do normally use the departure lounge for their end of the month prayers session.

She regretted that such routine exercise that is not even peculiar  to the Airport and its staffers, has been twisted to mean that the lounge is now a branch of a faith based organization.

According to the Commissioner, the Airport was used by aircraft that conveyed dignitaries for the burial ceremony of Dr Onu on November 8 .

Although there was a little lull ,when the runway was under going rehabilitation work, full activities, she noted, had since recommenced at the Airport.

Dr Obichukwu while completely debunking claims of the facility being redundant, urged members of the public, particularly air travelers to continue to patronize the facility.

Such patronage will assist greatly in improving the internally generated revenue profile of the state according to her .

The Commissioner maintained that there is nothing unusual about the monthly prayers session by the workers, as it is meant to seek God’s intervention, presence and protection for all travelers.

To this end, Dr Obichukwu described those behind the allegations that the Airport has been converted to a branch of a Church as enemies of Ebonyi, peace and progress.

“We have taken off flight operations. Of course, we held our monthly prayers to kick off the recommencement of flight operations.

“The critics are enemies of development, peace and progress in Ebonyi state who do not see anything good in the current administration.

“But thanks to our capacity Governor, Francis Nwifuru, who has shamed them by delivering a quality and long lasting projects, in addition to the numerous empowerment programmes and employment opportunities taking place in all parts of the State through his peoples’ charter of needs .

“You know that after the rehabilitation of the Chuba Okadigbo Airport runway, and completion of the asphalting, we were even not sure, but by the grace of God, our able Governor  provided all the things needed for the Airport’s runway and other facilities.

“Today, we are proud to thank all the regulatory bodies in the Aviation industry, and the Nigeria Airspace Management for their doggedness in ensuring that the Airport recommenced flight operations as usual.”