The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the opening of the newly built Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport for commercial operations with effect from December 2, 2021.
In a letter dated December 1, 2021 addressed to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, the aviation authority said that it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening of the airport.
It said that the negative security clearance was the reason the authority declined approval for the opening of the airport on October 30, 2021, when the state government officially commissioned it.
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A statement yesterday said that in the interim, Category B aircrafts are permitted to land and take off from the airport from sunrise to sunset.
Speaking on the development, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ihejiofor commended the efforts of Governor Obiano who, he said, never relented, even while on vacation to ensure that the Anambra airport becomes operational ahead of the Christmas 2021 mass return of Anambra people living in the Diaspora and other visitors.
He said that with the NCAA clearance, airlines already approved by the relevant authorities to operate at the Anambra airport such as Airpeace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria and others were expected to start scheduling flights into and out of the airport immediately.
It was disappointment on November 1 when no aircraft landed at the Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport, Umueri, despite the commissioning by Governor Obiano at a colourful ceremony due to the failure of NCAA to approve the take-off of two commercial flights that were billed to land at the airport from Lagos and Abuja respectively.
There were also allegations that political pressure forced federal authorities to stop the inauguration.
Obiano, in his speech during the inauguration ceremony that attracted top government officials, eminent personalities, members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the then governorship candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and well-wishers, disclosed that the Director-General of the NCAA, Mr. Musa Nuhu, had already handed in certificate of commercial flights operations.
He, however, said that NCAA insisted that the approved airlines must have their facilities on ground to ensure the comfort of passengers.
The governor said five airlines had been approved to commence operation at the Anambra Airport, including Air Peace Nigeria Ltd., United Nigeria Airline Ltd., Dana Airline Ltd., Ibom Airline Ltd and Anab Jet Ltd.
