Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured the Nsulu Community, Isialangwa North LGA, of the Government’s commitment to conduct a complete and comprehensive tracing process of the Abia Airport Project in order to commence adequate compensation to genuine landowners.
Governor Otti gave the assurance on Thursday during a crucial meeting between the State Government and the Nsulu Airport Communities Land Owners Forum held at Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, further assured that sons and daughters of Nsulu Community would be given priority employment opportunities in the Airport Project.
“We appreciate the fact that a project of this magnitude will involve a whole lot of sacrifice for the host community. We have been able to touch base with them, also to seek their productive collaboration to make sure that within the space that has been projected for the completion of this airport work continues unabated.
“We have also on the same platform agreed that the cutting of the traces must be completed to ensure that we identify the genuine landowners. We have agreed that after that is done, enumeration will continue and adequate compensation would be paid.
“We also agreed that Abia State indigenes, especially Nsulu people, will all have the right to work and benefit from that project, so the first right of employment would be extended to Nsulu sons and daughters,” he said.
The Governor, who affirmed the State’s commitment to driving the initiative, pledged that the Airport Project would be completed on schedule, adding that the Government would continue its engagement with the host communities until the project is finally completed.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the siting of the airport in Abia State and commended the cooperation and sacrifices made by the host communities in facilitating the progress of the Airport Project.
Responding, a representative of the Land Owners of the Proposed Nsulu Airport Project, Chief Uzor Azubuike, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and lauded the State Government for redirecting its approach by engaging directly with the legitimate landowners rather than those attempting to disrupt the project.
“We are happy with the way this meeting has gone today. We have seen government redirect itself from people that we consider intruders and pretenders who had no land in the affected area trying to distract government from the real owners of the land, and people mistook that for the landowners resisting development.”
Chief Azubuike further lauded the State Government for “showing humility to listen to the landowners’ and their complaints,” as well as their decision to reduce the area intended for the Airport Project considering the agrarian nature of the communities and the potential impact on their livelihood.
He disclosed that part of the key agreements reached during the meeting was the need for the Government to unbundle some of the projects surrounding the airport and to clearly demarcate the affected area in collaboration with the landowners.
Chief Azubuike noted that the step is crucial in identifying the genuine landowners and distinguishing them from those who have been falsely claiming representation.
He emphasized that the land in question belongs to individual owners, rather than the Nsulu Community, and assured the State Government that the landowners will provide maximum support, provided that the Government fulfills its obligations.
