Work On Abia Airport Finally Takes Off, Amidst Resistance

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Baring any last minute changes, the Abia State Government has informed that it will flag off the construction of an  Airport for the State come Tuesday December 17, 2024.

This is even as opposition from the host communities  continue to grow against the site for the proposed project.

At a media briefing Monday evening December 9, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu said Governor Alex Otti, alongside the Minister for Aviation ,Festus Keyamo, will perform the ground-breaking ceremony.

He assured that all necessary arrangements have been concluded for a smooth take off of the  airport project to be sited in Nsulu area in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government of the State.

According to him, although the issue of constructing an airport was initially not  a priority project for the administration, however, it had to partner with the Federal Government to upgrade its planned airstrip for the State  to an airport.

The Source reports that about four months ago, during an inspection tour of the proposed site for the airstrip by Aviation Ministry officials and other stakeholders in the industry, Governor Otti,  had signaled the intention of the state Government to upscale the project to a full airport.

He had explained that since there are no much differences between an airstrip and airport, it will be  germane and more economical to rather collaborate with the Federal Government to have an Airport instead.

The Source further reports that while the Federal Government will provide the cost for an airstrip, the Abia state authorities will make available a counterpart fund that will be used to upscale the project to a full a airport.

“This unique partnership will lead to the construction of the requisite runways that would land bigger aircrafts when completed” the State Commissioner for Information noted.

He further disclosed that all relevant stakeholders and authorities in the industry are on hand to ensure a successful commencement of the project.

However, while all appear set for the kick-starting of the airport construction, the small matter of how to placate the host communities  remains unresolved.

As at the time of reporting, sporadic protest marches by a section of the host communities  against the take- over of their farm lands were ongoing .

For one, the Communities are resisting the attempt by the Abia State Government to appropriate another substantial part of their farm lands after collecting large expanse of lands for the twin projects of  Nsulu Dry Seaport and the botched former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s airport project.

The immediate past administration initially planned to construct an airport in the same area but had to jettison the idea based on “wise counsel” according to its officials.

The earlier sum of N 10 billion earmarked for the project was diverted to other more urgent needs, they stated .

Governor Otti, and his administration, however, have since declared the budgeted  N10 billion missing in a recent forensic audit report.

The communities and their  leaders,are said to be insisting that the Government should use the earlier donated land for which Certificate of Occupancy C of O has been issued for the project.

In the alternative,the communities  are  demanding the return of the earlier donated land , before they will let go another large expanse of their  farm land for same project .

At the last count , several  prominent  personalities from the host communities  ,including Hon.Uzo Azubuike ,a former Member of the House of Representatives ,and Chief Obinna Oriaku former Commissioner for Finance during the first tenure of former Governor Ikpeazu  have written publicly to express their disapproval of yet  another round of appropriation of the peoples’ farm lands

The people said they cannot allow the Government both at the  national and state levels to continue to seize their farm lands .

But the state Government has insisted that they are engaging with the communities  and their leaders with a view to ironing out any observed areas of disagreement.

Pastor Caleb Ajagba ,Chief of Staff to the Governor informed that Government has held meetings  with traditional rulers and other stakeholders on the plan to site the airport in the area .

The Governor’s Chief of Staff ,noted that contrary to wide spread opinions, the Government at a meeting held at Palace of Eze Christopher Ebere in Umuomaifa ,Isiala Ngwa North Council obtained the nod of the community heads .

He maintained that  Government has so far tried to carry along all  stakeholders in all  the processes in the airport construction project .

According to him ,Government is not aware of any opposition from the host communities .

” There is no opposition to the project among the leaders ,but this meeting was to prepare their minds towards receiving the Government’s delegation that would be visiting to interface  with the Community starting from Tuesday December 10, 2024 .

The Government at present is cutting traces at the site ,and when completed ,would identify the real owners  of the areas chosen and would then pay compensation to them before work commences ” Ajagba assured .