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By Bianca Iboma -Emefu
A renowned architect, Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa, has defended the decision of Anambra State Government to develop a second airport in Orumba North, describing the project as the foundation of a massive logistics, commercial and industrial city designed to position the state for long-term economic growth.
Speaking amid growing public debate over the proposed airport, Ezenwa said critics were viewing the project solely from the perspective of aviation, whereas the government’s vision extends far beyond the construction of another airfield.
According to Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa, the Orumba North project is an integral component of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Vision 2070 development agenda, which seeks to transform Anambra into a globally competitive economic hub comparable to Dubai, Taiwan and Silicon Valley.
He argued that the proposed development is not merely an airport but an integrated aerotropolis comprising industrial parks, logistics centres, commercial districts, residential communities and export processing facilities.
Addressing concerns about the proximity of the proposed airport to existing airports in the Southeast, Ezenwa dismissed suggestions that another airport would amount to duplication of infrastructure.
Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa noted that Nigeria already operates several airports within relatively short distances of one another without compromising aviation safety or operational efficiency.
Further, Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa argued that states such as Delta, Kaduna and Rivers currently operate multiple airports or airfields, while Lagos has two parallel runways and multiple terminals, stressing that airport proximity is a common feature of modern aviation systems worldwide.
“The existence of airports within close geographical distances is neither unusual nor unsafe. Controlled airspace, standard operating procedures and aviation regulations are specifically designed to manage simultaneous operations efficiently,” he said.
Ezenwa also faulted arguments based on flight-time comparisons between airports, describing them as misleading because flying time depends largely on the type of aircraft involved as well as operational factors such as taxiing, climb, descent and air traffic sequencing.
He maintained that airports are not developed simply because of the distance separating them but because of the economic activities they are designed to support.
“The real question is not how many minutes separate two airports but what economic opportunities the infrastructure is expected to unlock,” he stated.
Explaining the rationale behind the project, Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa said projections under Anambra Vision 2070 estimate that the state’s population could rise from approximately 8.5 million today to about 38.5 million by 2070.
He said the anticipated population growth, coupled with increasing pressure on available land arising from urbanisation, flooding and erosion, makes it necessary for the government to secure strategic land now for future development.
According to him, waiting until future decades to acquire land for major infrastructure would significantly increase costs and reduce planning opportunities.
He added that the proposed airport is intended to support manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, exports and regional commerce rather than passenger transportation alone.
Ezenwa disclosed that the project covers approximately 12,700 hectares and will accommodate an integrated development consisting of the proposed aerodrome, the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City, an Agro-Industrial Park, a Pharmaceutical Hub, logistics facilities, commercial centres, residential estates and recreational areas.
Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa said the development will operate within the Anambra Economic Free Trade Zone, providing customs-bonded warehouses, export incentives, cold-chain facilities for agricultural products and other infrastructure required to promote industrial production and international trade.
