The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi yesterday unveiled N36 billion International Cargo Airport at Onueke, near the state capital, Abakaliki.
As an incentive for travellers to use the airport, the state government offered the indigenes a free two weekly flights from Lagos and Abuja for the next one month.
Speaking after two Air Peace flights landed from Lagos and Abuja respectively to mark inaugural flight to the state-of-the-art airport, the Governor said that the newly constructed aairport would be named President Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Onueke for the massive support received from the out-going President.
According to the Governor, Buhari approved the sum of N10 billon for the take off of the project, adding that several supports were also received from the federal government to ensure the successful completion of the airport.
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.
He further called on the incoming government to ensure good use of the facility for the people of the Ebonyi, the South East and the entire Nigerians.
He commended the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Director -General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Musa Nuhu, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Capt. Alkali Madibbo and the acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Lawrence Pwajok.
He also commended the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Ministry of Finance for their supports in ensuring the successful completion of the airport.
He also lauded Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema for supporting the State Government with the deployment of its two aircraft for the commissioning and for always coming to the rescue of stranded Nigerians around the world.
Air Peace operated the first flights to the airport as its two Embraer 145 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos touched down at the airport.
“This is our international airport. This airport comprises local and international terminals. President Muhammadu Buhari helped us with this project by first approving for us the sum of N10 billon for its commencement. I really appreciate President Buhari for this gesture. I also want to thank the aviation community for their support, the Speaker of Ebonyi State who is taking over from me in the next few days and several others.
“When we came in, in the second term, we planned three mega projects in the South, East and Central of Ebonyi State. We planned the university project on the South, the stadium project in the East, while the airport project was planned for the Central. I want to say it here that the university project has been concluded, the airport is being commissioned, while in the next two weeks, the stadium would have reached 80 per cent completion stage,” the Governor said.
Umahi, however, said that the airport would be handed over to the federal government for proper concessioning, stressing that government is not good in business; so the state would give the facility to the private sector for effective management and remarked that the major objective that drove the establishment of the airport was to create jobs, spur investment in the state and also to provide a convenient alternative for people in Ebonyi state and environs who would now travel through the aerodrome.
The governor declared that the airport would be formerly commissioned by President Buhari in the next 10 days and enjoined the people of the state to judiciously use the facilities.
Also commenting, the Director -General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, appealed to the government to ensure regular maintenance of the airport.
Nuhu who was represented at the occasion by General Manager Aerodrome Standards, NCAA, Adebayo Oladepo, said that said that the regulatory agency monitored the construction of the airport by the state government from inception to the present stage.
He described the airport as one of the best in the country, hoping that it would be well-maintained by the State Government.
He explained 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 at when due. This airport requires more expansion and I hope the incoming government will continue with this laudable project for the state,” he said.
