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The African Writers Centre (AWC) has called for proper investigation into the management of the revenues generated by the Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport (CAIA) at Umeri in Anambra State, alleging that the leadership of the airport, under Mr Martins Emeka Nwafor as the managing director, should account for that.
The group also called for Mr Nwafor’s immediate removal pending the outcome of a comprehensive forensic investigation into the management of the revenues generated by the facility.
A document dated April 19 and 25, 2026 and released by the group’s director general, Amah Alphonsus Amaonye, contained allegations that revenues generated from airport services, including the CAICA VIP lounge and cargo operations, might have been diverted into private accounts instead of the designated official account of the Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport.
The AWC alleged in one of its reports that proceeds from the airport’s VIP lounge were paid into accounts with private names instead of the airport’s officially designated revenue account. It also raised similar allegations concerning revenues associated with cargo movement through an airline operating at the airport with clearly documented evidence.
“These allegations are serious and require urgent, independent and transparent investigation. The need for a competent investigative authority to wade in and probe finance operations at the airport has become very necessary,” the group stated.
The AWC also wondered why the Anambra State Government should allow an airport managing director to continue presiding over a strategic state asset while such grave allegations concerning the handling of public revenues remain unanswered. It argued that the allegation was serious and urged the state government to urgently address the matter.
“If the documents and accompanying payment records are authentic, the matter should not be treated as an ordinary administrative dispute or swept aside as internal politics. The government must immediately establish the source of every payment allegedly collected on behalf of the airport, trace the movement of such funds and determine whether all revenues were properly captured, receipted, remitted and reflected in the official financial records of the airport,” it stated.
The group, however, stressed that a proper forensic audit should examine all the revenues generated from the CAICA VIP lounge, cargo handling and cargo-related charges, passenger and commercial service revenues, all official and third-party collection accounts used in airport transactions, bank statements and reconciliation records, payment instructions issued to airlines, passengers, cargo operators and airport users, maintenance expenditures and contracts, procurement records and the relationship between the revenues generated by the airport and the funds actually remitted into the government-approved accounts.
“The investigation should also determine whether any private account was formally authorised to collect revenues on behalf of the airport, and if so, who granted that authorisation, under what financial framework and with what accountability mechanism?” the group said.
The AWC bemoaned the situation at the airport, noting that an airport can survive a broken generator but cannot survive a broken system of accountability.
“This is why calls are now growing for Governor Charles Soludo and the relevant state authorities to act decisively,” it added.
The group also stressed that for equity, good conscience and applicable public-service procedures, Mr Nwafor should step aside or be suspended from responsibilities directly connected with the investigation to ensure that records, personnel and evidence are protected from possible interference.
“The purpose of such an action is not to pronounce anyone guilty before investigation. It is to protect a public institution and ensure that a credible investigation can take place,” it added.
The AWC equally stressed that Mr. Nwafor should also be given an opportunity to respond publicly and formally to the allegations and to provide documentary explanations for any transaction identified in the reports.
It, however, insisted that Governor Soludo must understand that silence is no longer an adequate response as the airport is allegedly going down.
“The Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport is a strategic public asset built with public resources and intended to serve millions of Anambra people.
“Its management cannot remain insulated from scrutiny while passengers complain of operational failures, airlines encounter infrastructure problems and documents containing allegations of possible financial irregularities continue to emerge,” it stated.
The group noted that the airport was increasingly becoming unattractive by the day as a result of higher flight fares, nonconducive environment, safety and security issues, insisting that the issue had gone beyond poor performance to a question of public accountability.
It, therefore, urged Governor Soludo to order an immediate investigation, insisting that the financial records must be opened, maintenance records examined and accounts used to collect airport revenues reconciled and anybody found to have breached financial regulations or abused public trust must face the full consequences prescribed by law.
“Anambra people deserve an airport that works and they deserve to know where every Naira generated by that airport goes,” the group submitted.
