Abia State Governor, Dr Alex.Otti and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo SAN, Tuesday, jointly performed the ground breaking ceremony of the new Abia Airport Project at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the State.
The new Airport, a signature project of the Governor Otti administration in partnership with the Federal Government is expected to 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.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony held at the Community School Ubaha Nsulu, Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging 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 and 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.
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 who addressed criticism about the timing and relevance of the airport project, emphasized its strategic importance for Abia’s long-term prosperity noting that the Airport project is an integral part of his administrations urbanization agenda and a catalyst for economic transformation.
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“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.
“The volume of investments we anticipate and the projected influx of high network individuals for businesses, conferences and events it even for holidays, investing in an airport is certainly a right decision”, he said.
Governor Otti thanked the land donor communities of Ubaha, Umuala, Ikputu, Umuosu, Umuezeukwu, Umuode and Umuomainta Nvosi for their generosity and support for the project and disclosed that the State has started preparation for payment of compensation to genuine land owners.
“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.
He announced that the project would be completed in 36 months and thanked all stakeholders who contributed to making the project a reality.
Performing the ground breaking ceremony , the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, thanked 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.
Barr. Keyamo while noting that Abia is the heartbeat of industrialization of the South East region, described the Airport as 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.
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, and pointed out that the President is the only President that assented to the South East Development Commission.
While describing Governor Otti as a Governor that understands synergy, Rt. Hon. Kalu assured that the National Assembly would ensure enough funds are appropriated to support the airport project, which he said is of economic importance.
In her speech, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha thanked the President for considering Abia for siting an international airport and maintained that Abia will benefit a lot from the project.
Mrs. Onyejiocha used the opportunity to disclose that the President would by January unveil a Federal Government project of aimed at employing Abia and Nigeria youths .
In their speeches, 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 and his Lands and Housing counterpart, Mr Chaka Chukwumereije while describing the airport project as a gateway to the world and a catalyst for economic and sustainable growth revealed that the airport project would be situated on a 1,325 (One Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Five) Hectares of land while compensation will be duly paid to the land donors.
