Jubilations as Clearing of Runway Access Road Commences at Abia Airport Project Site

Strong indications have emerged that the Abia Airport Project is gradually becoming a reality with the commencement of clearing of access road leading to the runway.

The same has elicited jubilation among members of the Umuala Nsulu host communities of Isiala Ngwa North.

Speaking at the site, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Calab Ajagba maintained that Governor Alex Otti’a administration is sincere in carrying out the project in collaboration with the Federal Government.

Ajagba observed that the feelings of land owners attest to the fact that the people are receptive of the airport project unlike the falsehood being narrated inception of the process.

“You can see that contrary to the wrong notion that the Nsulu community is receptive of this very important project. You can see for yourself that that notion is wrong, is not correct.

“So you can see the people, the clearing is already ongoing and you can see now that the people appreciate the importance of this airport project and so, anybody that has been given that impression that Nsulu people are not favourably disposed to this project, you can see for yourself that it is not true.”

Ajagba commended the host communities for their understanding, informing that government has started paying compensation to land owners.

“I want to commend the host communities for the level of maturity, understanding and commitment that have shown. It is quite commendable, and we are all proud of Nsulu people.

“Already, compensation is being paid. Many host communities have already received their payment and you can see palpable joy, everybody is happy because transparency is what engineers trust and that’s one thing you can’t take for granted in the administration of His Excellency,” he stated.

Speaking also, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Land and Housing and Project Coordinator for the Abia Airport Project said the clearing of access marks a milestone in the project.

“Today another process of the airport has kicked off, we have done enumeration and other things, today we are creating the access road into the runway so that we can do the necessary soil test and other investigations at the runway.

“It is about 853 kilometres from the main road to the runway point. So, we are looking at the next 5 to 7 days to finish clearing of the access way.”

The leader of the land owners in the Government Land Owners Forum for Abia State Airport Nsulu and Chairman of the Memorandum of Agreement Committee, Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike commended Governor Alex Otti for heeding to their plea of reducing the size of the land from the initial 1,800 hectares to 1,000 hectares.

Contributing, a land owner, Barr Andrew Obinna Ijenri appreciated the sincerity of the Governor Otti’s administration in carrying the people along.

“The process of acquisition of land is top-notch. The government has been keeping to their promises. I have witnessed by phone calls and by oral testimony that some of our people have been paid. We are very happy.'”Barr. Ijenri stated.

Some youths and women of Nsulu communities including the Youth President of Nsulu, Prince Chisom Nwaogbe, Youth President of Umuala, Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Mrs. Bridget Ijenri, Mrs. Gift Umeh as well as the Chairman Community Relations for Nsulu Airport Project, Rev. Isreal Ukoma all said the people are excited that at finally, the Nsulu Airport Project is becoming a reality as the road leading to the runway is being created.

They said for a long time there has been some sort of agitations on whether or not the project would work but expressed joy that the process of the project has commenced and assured that they would support the government’s efforts in that regard, while the youths in particular assured of protecting the working materials of the project.

Earlier the of Manger, CRANEBURG Construction Company, Seba El -Nemer thanked Governor Otti and the Nsulu community for the successful commencement of the processes of creating access road that would lead to the runway and the fence and assured he would deliver accordingly.

He further informed that they are engaging both the skilled and unskilled manpower within the host communities

The commencement of the clearing and creating of the access road leading to the runway of Abia Airport Nsulu attracted members of the host communities with their women chanting and dancing in appreciation of the good fortune in form of an airport coming their way.