Governor Otti has demonstrated high sense of maturity and sincerity in the skillful manner he has handled all the intricacies and man-made challenges surrounding the airport project. He has shown unrivalled determination and commitment to deliver on the project.
By Emeka Nwosu
When the Abia State Government declared its intentions last year to collaborate with the Federal Government in the establishment of an airport in the State, the news was widely received with joy by the good people of Abia. The joy was rooted in the conviction that the project, when consummated, would not only open up the State for rapid economic development, but would make it accessible to foreign investors and international tourists seeking to do business in Abia. It is also expected that the establishment of the airport would create employment opportunities, unlock economic potentials and bring shared prosperity to the people.
Some months later, the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti took the practical step of identifying Nsulu, a community in Isiala Ngwa North as the site for the project. The Government, thereafter, commenced negotiations with the land owners for the effective acquisition of the lands for this very important project that is dear to the people of Abia State. Many pessimists were still doubtful of the project, considering the disappointments the people experienced in the hands of the immediate past Okezie Ikpeazu administration that raised and dashed their hopes when it failed to construct any airport after voting N10 billion to that effect.
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The new Abia Airport project at Nsulu
A forensic audit commissioned by the Otti administration later revealed that the said N10 billion was diverted and shared by the officials of that inglorious administration, with no airport anywhere to be found. Against this background, not many gave the Otti-led government any chance to make good its promise to forge ahead with its plans to build a befitting and functional airport in the State. But those doubts were cleared when on 17th December, 2024, Governor Otti and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, flagged off the airport construction at Nsulu in collaboration with the Federal Government.
Wild jubilation greeted that event which was witnessed by many dignitaries, including members of the National Assembly from Abia State, officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other very important guests.
However, since after the ceremonial ground-breaking, the project has been mired in crisis with claims and counter claims over the compensation of land owners by the State Government. One clear point that has emerged is that some communities within the airport site are being instigated by some unscrupulous and displaced politicians from the last administration to protest and resist the acquisition of their lands by the government. These disgruntled elements have also gone to the extent of procuring the locals to address press conferences where they falsely denied claims of compensations by the Otti administration, contrary to the truth.
The entire perfidy was exposed last week when a government team led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Caleb Ajagba engaged the land owners at the Nsulu airport site. What emerged from the interactions was an eye opener. It was confirmed that compensations had been paid to the land owners whose lands are located along the runway of the airport project. Furthermore, the State Government added that those that were yet to receive payments were exceptional cases which would be attended to on a case-by-case basis.
Dr. Ajagba in the company of the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, made the following clarifications:
“We discovered that it is not that they have not been paid, but some of them have challenges with either their accounts or maybe they have not completed the mandatory indemnity certificate that would enable them be paid.” He said that some areas of lands that were not enumerated but were cleared in error by a contractor have been resolved to the satisfaction of the host community.
The Chief of Staff said that about 3,500 people have been paid compensation and assured those who have not received their own that it would get to them if they complete their indemnity certificates, adding that Nsulu people are not opposed to the airport project. Chukwumerije corroborated the position of the Chief of Staff, pointing out that anyone not yet compensated would still be attended to on case by case basis.
A community leader, Mr. Echezola Ukaumunna, who responded on behalf of the people, appreciated the visit of the government officials and noted that it had gone a long way in correcting a lot of misconceptions.
This latest in the series of engagements by government with the Nsulu community is a welcome development which would help soothe frayed nerves while paving way for a peaceful and orderly prosecution of the airport project. Governor Otti has demonstrated high sense of maturity and sincerity in the skillful manner he has handled all the intricacies and man-made challenges surrounding the airport project. He has shown unrivalled determination and commitment to deliver on the project.
Now that the controversies on land acquisition have been amicably resolved, work can progress without interruptions. It is the collective hope of the people of Abia that in the shortness of time, the airport will materialize as a signature project of the purpose-driven Otti administration.
May Abia continue to prevail!
Emeka Nwosu, PhD, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia. Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com
