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Nsulu Airport: We’re poised to turn Abia into a major destination hub – Gov Otti

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Eventually, Abians rolled out their drums and red carpets to grace the ground-breaking ceremony of  the long awaited  Abia Airport project, jointly performed by the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex.Otti and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo, on  Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of  Abia state.

This is in spite of the hiccups that had  delayed  its take-off under  different administrations.

The  colourful ceremony was witnessed by stakeholders in the Aviation Aerospace  industry, titans of industries, government  functionaries and political gladiators, irrespective of their party leanings.

It will be recalled that when this Airport project was initiated by a past governor , Senator Theodore Orji, Abia royal fathers advised  him to put the project on-hold as the project was not a priority at the time.

Their major contention was that “not up to 5 percent of Abians travel by air”, and rather advised that Abians who want to  travel by air should use the Imo Airport.

Incidentally, under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu,  the administration  decided  to embark upon the airport project and budgeted N10billion, which was approved by the Abia state House of Assembly.  But  the outcome of  that ambition was thwarted as the approved  N10billion fizzled away without any Airport seen anywhere in Abia state.

However,  when  Dr. Alex Otti came on board, he resurrected the idea of an airport for Abia, and set out his dragnets to ascertain the suitability of the former site.

Experts discovered that the area was already built-up and would deny many of their  structures and residential homes if chosen for an airport, just as compensation would be very heavy and  payments would not have been feasible before the commencement of the Airport project there.

A wise decision was the choice of a virgin land between Aba, the commercial hub of the zone and Umuahia, the state capital.

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In an attempt to place a hurdle on the new location, so that the project would go the way of other regimes, a one-time governorship aspirant in Abia state, Mr. Max Nduaguibe, led a faction of his community to the streets, in protest against the siting of the airport at Nsulu.

His reason was that the airport  would deprive  them of their farmlands. Security sources said that when  Nduaguibe was seen to be merely inciting  his people  against the project for personal gains. He was invited to Umuahia  for clearer  understanding.

The truth of the matter now, according to government sources, is that Abia State Government has engaged the people of Nsulu clan in Isialangwa North LGA and secured their support for government to go ahead with the proposed Abia Airport in their community.

“Government had already engaged the traditional rulers in the clan before now but decided to further engage the people to ensure they understand its intentions. As soon as the requisite size of the project is acquired, enumeration done, compensations will be paid to land donors, host communities and not to any politicians”

Incidentally, as the objections to the airport projects lasted, sources had it that the federal government  had earlier proposed to build an Airstrip in Abia.

But, as Otti reasoned, “since Abia was at its best now to build an airport, it was no use for the federal government to construct an Airstrip alone”

In the words of Otti: “The  federal government intended to build an airstrip, but with  the intervention  of the state government and promise to come -in at any time  we are required to,  the Airstrip  was converted to a full fledged   Airport. We had reasoned that the difference between an airport and airstrip is the run-way. This unique partnership will lead to the construction of the requisite runways that would land bigger aircrafts when finished”.

According to the governor, Abia is providing the land and other logistic supports, as required by the federal government, for  the smooth take-off and execution of the project.

And so, Otti  pressed for a full- fledged Airport, under  a collaborative  initiative. This new arrangement was later approved and granted by the federal government.

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Today, the Abia Airport, seen as a signature project of the Governor Otti-led administration in partnership with the Federal Government, is sitting on a land space  of  1,325  hectares donated by Ubaha, Umuala, Ikputu, Umuosu, Umuezeukwu, Umuode and Umuomainta Nvosi communities, respectively.

The Airport project is expected to be completed in 36 months. When in operation, it  would transform the State’s transport system by enhancing connectivity through air-travel and providing  job opportunities for Abians and residents through investments in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Nevertheless, while performing the ground- breaking ceremony of the airport , held at the Community School Ubaha Nsulu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace , Festus Keyamo, SAN, commended  Governor Otti for partnering the Federal Government in converting the project,  initially conceptualized as an Airstrip,  to a full fledged airport in addition to his commitment to provide all that is required,  including counterpart funding for the project.

Keyamo described Abia  as the heartbeat of industrialization of the South East region, stressing that the Airport  is a veritable enabler for economic and social development.

He said that it is the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Abia be connected to the rest of the world through the project and assured that the people of Nsulu community would be given first considerations in appointment and employment in the airport project.

In his own  speech, Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging on partnerships and opportunities to drive sustainable development initiatives that would revolutionize the state’s socio-economic landscape.

“We made a commitment that under our watch, Abia will never let any promising opportunities slip -by ; whether it is collaborating with multi lateral partners, Federal government and it’s agencies, sister States, business organizations  or individuals who have something of value to offer us.

“We are constantly open to making the most of the opportunities we find because there lies the path to sustained progress”, Gov Otti stated.

The Governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his practical commitment to the rapid social economic development of the South East Geopolitical Zone.

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He added that the  President,  not only approved the initial plan to build an Airstrip in the state, but also magnanimously consented to the State Government’s  proposal to expand the scope of the project to become a full fledged airport.

Governor Otti also highlighted the planned development of an airport city, including the revitalization of the Nsulu Games Village and the establishment of hotels and other facilities to support tourism and business activities.

The Governor addressed the hitches,  timing and relevance of the airport project as well as emphasized the strategic importance of the project to Abia’s long-term prosperity. He added that the Airport project is an integral part of his administration’s urbanization agenda and a catalyst for economic transformation.

“In the new Abia, an airport is not just an important project for the long term prosperity of the state, it is an integral component of our vision to open the State to the world.

“We are poised to turn Abia into a major destination hub. An airport in Abia, particularly,  at this location will not only accelerate our urbanization agenda beyond ABA and Umuahia, it will also send a clear signal to the world that we are open and prepared to rise to a higher plane in the race for social and economic transformation of our homeland.

“This airport will therefore serve a new advantage to the appeal of Aba as an important destination in the West African sub region.

” On the volume of investments,  we anticipate and project influx of high network of individuals for businesses, conferences and events, even for holidays, investing in an airport is certainly a right decision”.

Governor Otti thanked the land donor communities  for their generosity and support for the project and disclosed that the State has started preparation for payment of compensation to genuine land owners. He equally thanked all stakeholders who contributed to making the project a reality.

“We are a compassionate administration, even when the law has vested ownership of the land on the State government, we will still go ahead to pay every reasonable compensation to those whose lands are used for projects geared for greater public good”, he said.

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Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu said that President Tinubu is deliberate about the development of the South East and Abia, in particular.

While describing governor Otti as a governor who understands synergy, Kalu assured that the National Assembly would ensure enough funds are appropriated to support the airport project, which he said is of economic importance.

Adding her voice, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha thanked Mr. President for considering Abia for siting an  International airport and maintained that Abia will benefit a lot from the project.

Onyejiocha used the opportunity to disclose that Mr. President would, by January, unveil a federal government’s project aimed at  employing Abia and Nigeria youths removing Nigeria youths  from the streets and employ them.

In their remarks the member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe and a stakeholder in the area Chief Ncheta Omerekpe while calling on the host community, the Nsulu people to cooperate with the state government for the smooth take- off and completion of the project in record time, pointing out that the administration of governor Alex Otti meant well for the people of Isialangwa North LGA.

Earlier in their remarks, the Commissioner for Transport Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu as well as his Lands and Housing counterpart, Mr Chaka Chukwumereije described  the airport project as a gateway to the world and a catalyst for economic and sustainable growth.