Ebonyi N36bn Airport welcomes first flights

Razaq Bamidele

President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State, on Thursday, April 27 welcomed two aircraft at the inaugural flight operations to the admiration of the state government.

Operating the first flights to the airport was Air Peace with its two Embraer 145 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

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The elated state governor, Dave Umahi, who spoke at the inaugural flight operations, disclosed that so far, the project had gulped N36 bill. He promised that, “from May, the state government will provide free flights twice daily from Abuja and Lagos for the next four weeks.”

The governor said that the airport would drive development and investments in the state and appealed to investors to take the opportunity of the airport to invest in the state.

Umahi called on the incoming government in the state to ensure good use of the facility for the people of Ebonyi, the South-east and the entire people of Nigeria.

 “When the first aircraft landed, I remembered Ebonyi and the toils of the founding fathers. It gladdens my heart that our dream has been actualised. I am grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved a N10 billion loan for the international wing of the airport to be built. Some people tried to downgrade us but we fought on to make the project a reality. When we faced the challenge of lack of funds, President Buhari wrote to the Ministry of Finance and told them to make funds available for us. We are very grateful to him.

 “The total amount so far that was used to build this airport is N36 billion. What is remaining is the taxiway and airfield lighting, which have already been paid for. Starting from May, the Ebonyi State government would operate two flights weekly from Lagos and Abuja free of charge for four weeks, as a way to encourage travel into the state. Subsequently, we would want the Federal Government to take over the airport and concession it to make it more profitable,” the governor said.

 Umahi also expressed gratitude to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for ensuring the project got speedy approval.

 “We want to thank the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who promised us that he would ensure that the project is a reality. We also want to thank the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, for his support and also to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele as well as the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who ensured that the funds the president approved were made available to us.”

Speaking further, the governor said: “We wanted to do three mega projects in each senatorial district, we started a university in Ebonyi South and today, it is a success. We have started a stadium in Ebonyi North and by the next two weeks, we would ensure that it would reach 80% completion. The airport is located in Ebonyi Central and it is for everyone. We want to thank the House of Assembly for their support and for the speedy approval of the N10 billion loan we took for the project.

 “We faced a lot of challenges and criticisms from those who said the airport was an impossible project. When it was time to donate land, some people took us to court but we are grateful to the judiciary and the Izza nation for their support.

 “We are also very grateful to the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema. When Nigerians were stranded in South Africa, he went and evacuated them free of charge. When Nigerians became stranded in Sudan, he also offered to evacuate them free of charge. When it was time for this inaugural flight, he brought two of his aircrafts to bring in people from Lagos and Abuja.”

Also commenting, Capt. Musa Nuhu appealed to the government to ensure regular maintenance of the airport. Represented on the occasion by Mr. Emma Chukwu, Nuhu said the regulatory agency monitored the construction of the airport by the state government from inception to the present stage, describing the airport as one of the best in the country just as he hoped that it would be well-maintained by the state government.

 He enthused that the airport would fasten growth in Ebonyi, while additional Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) would be earned through it.

 “This airport will open Ebonyi State to the world. When it becomes fully operational, it will create jobs and more investors will come into the state. It is always good to have a project like this and there is also the need to maintain it as and when due. This airport requires more expansion and I hope the incoming government will continue with this laudable project for the state,” the governor said.