Controversies continue to trail the citing of Abia International Airport, Nsulu, even with the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. No fewer than 13 communities in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State have protested against the proposed citing of the facility in their villages
By Emma Ogbuehi
Controversies continue to trail the citing of Abia International Airport, Nsulu, even with the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. No fewer than 13 communities in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State have protested against the proposed citing of the facility in their villages on grounds that the project if not urgently stopped would displace millions of the residents and deny them opportunity to farm to feed their families.
The Nsulu communities are Ikputu, Umuikeocha Umuode, Umuezeukwu, Umuogu, Uwaoma/Ikoo Umuosu, Umuata Umuosu, Umule Umuosu, Okpulorukwu Umuosu, Umuodeche, Ubaha, Umuala, Umuezenta Nbawsi, Mbubo and Umuomainta Nbawsi, being owners of the hectares of land acquired at different times, including the new proposed ‘Abia Airport Project.’
They argued that an Airport cannot be sited on a heavily populated community, without consideration of its Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA and their buildings being marked for demolition with their ancestral homes, shrines, churches and natural features and their forefathers’ graves being marked with their only sources of livelihood (small farm lands) less than 2km being purportedly marked for Airport project while other suitable areas had already been acquired from the same people by previous administration.
The communities also warned that their objection to the present location, if ignored would amount to the destruction of communities, and lead to irreparable damages.
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Counsel to the communities, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, in petitions to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, DSS, National Security Adviser, NSA, also said they were not opposed to the airport project, but that an area already earmarked for the facility should be used, instead of citing such a project in densely populated area with its attendant health implications.
According to Vanguard, the petition to Minister of Aviation and Aerospace read: “Several years ago, the then Government of Imo State, which then included the areas covered by what is today known as and called Abia State, under Governor Sam Mbakwe in an effort to develop an airport for the state, acquired a large/expanse of land at Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area and later abandoned it when approval was given, and relocated the airport to the present location at Ngor Okpala, near Owerri.
“Those lands acquired by the then Imo State Government, now at Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State are still available for use by Governor Alex Otti today.
“In 2015 and 2022, the Government of Abla State under the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, came up with the idea of building an Airport for Abia State and in this regard, acquired another expanse of land spanning Umuode Nsulu, Ikputu Nsulu, Umuodeche Nsulu, Umuogu and Umuezeukwu Nsulu, etcetera in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. Much of the land belonged to our clients and voluntarily given up by them, wherein C of O was issued by the Abia State Government and approval issued from the office of the Ministry of Aviation for the building of the Abia Airstrip.
“This vast area of land is still acquired, and largely uninhabited, and if the governor wants to build an International Airport, this land is still available for use by the governor, and is most appropriate due to its zero per cent on the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA.
“However, it is worthy of note sir, that our clients are not against the building of the said airport by the Federal Government and Abia state Government, but query the yardstick upon which the highly respected office of the Ministry of Aviation will close its eyes to the relocation of the approved site to a new place in Nsulu, which our clients are groaning with agony, which are not selfish but based on verifiable issues that an Airport cannot be sited on a heavily populated community, without consideration of its EIA and their buildings being marked for demolition with their ancestral homes, shrines, churches and natural features and their forefathers’ graves being marked with their only sources of livelihood (small farm lands) less than 2km being purportedly marked for Airport project while other suitable areas had already been acquired from the same people by previous administration.”
Citing of the Airport at Nsulu has been a contentious issue between indigenes of the communities and Abia state government.
Notwithstanding, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo on Tuesday, officially flagged off the construction of Abia International Airport, with a declaration that President Bola Tinubu is interested in connecting Abia to the world.
Keyamo, who described Abia as the heartbeat of Southeast industrialization, praised Governor Alex Otti for his vision in converting the initial federal government project from an airstrip to an international airport, as well as his commitment to providing the needed counterpart funds.
The Aviation and Aerospace Minister assured the indigenes of the host communities that they would be given priority in the first appointments and employment at the airport.
In his address, Governor Otti praised President Tinubu for his interest in the development of the South East.
He explained that the airport is part of his administration’s vision to extend development beyond the cities of Aba and Umuahia. Otti said that Abia State’s economy would reap bountifully once the project is completed, with more business opportunities being created.
Otti also assured the indigenes of the host communities whose lands are to be used that they would receive compensation