From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Some heartwarming news emanated from Ebonyi State recently. Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Ngozi Obichukwu, earlier in the month announced that the completion of the runway rehabilitation work at the Chuba Okadigbo International Cargo Airport, Onueke, in the central senatorial district of the state.
She revealed that flight operations at the airport were expected to take off this month, adding that the state would be floating an airline.
Daily Sun gathered that United Nigeria Airline had almost concluded arrangements to begin operations at the airport before it suspended following issues raised by experts over the runway.
With positive developments at the airport, the hiring and training of the relevant staff which the airline started August last year, and later suspended, may be reactivated.
The facility was conceived, built and deemed to have been completed by former governor David Umahi, now Minister of Works.
Mixed reactions had trailed the airport project with many critics saying that it was a waste of the state’s scarce resources.
Those against the project argued that since it takes less than 45 minutes’ drive to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, there was no need for the Ebonyi airport. They saw it as a way of siphoning the state’s funds.
Governor Francis Nwifuru said his predecessor spent N42bn on the airport project.
There was inaugural flight operation at the airport few weeks to the end of the Umahi-led administration with full flight operations expected to take off immediately, but that did not happen.
It was explained that the runway had stalled flight operations because it was constructed with concrete which made it very difficult for aircraft to land and take off in the airport.
Nwifuru on taking over the mantle of leadership, paid attention to the airport with a view to making it operation. It was one of the projects he beamed searchlight on and approved N13.75billion for the rehabilitation of the runway. The job was awarded to Infrastructure Development Company (IDC).
Along the line, it became glaring that the amount was not enough for the rehabilitation, so, about N4bn extra was approved bringing the total amount spent on the runway rehabilitation by the present government to N17.3bn.
The governor during a media chat marking the 63rd Independence of Nigeria and the State at 27, last year, said: “The truth is that the mindset of those that started the airport is germane but did we get it right? In area of runway, we didn’t get it right because the runway is jumping and it is destroying aircraft tyres.
“Initially, we thought that it is the cause of the expansion joint, that’s what we believed initially and we said ok, let us close all the expansion joints and know why it is jumping but it is still jumping and it has spoiled a lot of aircrafts and that is why many aircraft refused to land there.
“For us to get it right, we approached the Federal Ministry of Aviation and asked them what do we do. They told us that we need to do scarification and put thyroids and start laying asphalt. I said wow, we are into trouble. When you look at the amount that was sunk into that airport, it is not something you get up and say you want to abandon. The former administration sunk N42bn into that edifice; it is one of the best, biggest and largest airports.
“I said ok, how to make a mark is doing something very difficult or challenging. We have been confronted with a lot of challenge on this matter and we must do something and get it right because our people’s money has been spent on the project and we must get the project right by putting what is right and what everybody wants.”
During his one-year anniversary celebrations, the governor said: “The remedial work at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport runway has been completed. N17.3 billion was spent, while major repairs in the terminal building and control tower have commenced in earnest and in an advanced stage. To this end, flight operations will commence fully at the airport.”
Obichukwu disclosed: “We will soon start floating our aircraft. When flight operations start at the airport, we have investors that are ready to give us extra three planes. We have already entered into agreement with them, and very soon it will start happening.
“The governor is very passionate about bringing in our own planes. And we are launching four at a time and when it comes, everybody will hear it. The governor wants to make this airport the economic hub of the South East region.”