The Francis Nwifuru administration in Ebonyi state has unveiled plans to set up an airline in the state. The airline is expected to complement the efforts of the administration to turn the state into an aviation hub in the south east and beyond.
The administration, according to the state Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu is poised to complete the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport started by the administration of Dave Umahi.
When completed, the airport will service neighbouring states of Abia, Enugu, Anambra, and even part of Cross River, according to Obichukwu who stated that the airport will also be used to transport agricultural produce from the state.
According to her, the state is a major producer of rice, garri , and salt which can now be exported through the airport when finally completed.
The airport, she further stated, will be completed by August this year as the government has put everything in place to meet the deadline.
Obichukwu who spoke to journalists said: “We are here as a team to tell you what our dear governor is doing on the runway of the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo Airport.
“Many have been asking questions, are we good to go? Are we able to deliver the road by May as we promised? With your eyes and your senses, you people have seen what we have done and the extent we have gone.
“Before the asphalting, we have started witnessing the coming in of flights, and you know, as I have said before, it is both human and cargo airport. We are good to go in terms of exporting our food. Ebonyi State is good with production. We can export our rice, our garri , and even our salt. We will package it in an acceptable way and package it out.
“We are at the centre of attraction as far as the South East is concerned. Those of them that are coming from Abia, Enugu, Anambra, and even part of Cross River will be landing here. Those of them that are travelling from outside will be landing here. It will not only be a beehive of activities, but an economic hub of the South East because many people will benefit from here.”
Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have slammed some state governments for establishing airports in their states. What is the viability of such airports, they argue, describing them as elephant projects that do not necessarily add value to the lives of their people.
