NEWS
Renewed Hope Media Tour Ends in Abia with Inspection of Ongoing International Airport Project at Nsulu
The two-day Renewed Hope Media Tour in Abia State concluded with an inspection visit to the ongoing Abia Airport project located at Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, where construction activities have continued at an impressive pace, particularly on the runway component of the project.
The media tour, organized under the Renewed Hope Media Tour initiative of the Office of the Presidency, provided journalists with the opportunity to assess firsthand the level of progress recorded on major federal and state-backed projects across Abia State. The airport project, being executed through a collaboration between the Abia State Government and the Federal Government, was one of the major highlights of the exercise.
Leading journalists around the expansive project site, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, explained that the visit formed part of the ongoing Renewed Hope Media Tour designed to showcase critical development projects across the country. He commended the quality and speed of work being carried out on the airport runway, noting that the level of progress already achieved was encouraging.
Prince Kanu expressed satisfaction with the extensive earthworks currently underway and described the pace of construction as highly commendable, emphasizing that the project remains one of the strategic infrastructure developments expected to transform the economic fortunes of the state and the South-East region.
Speaking during the inspection, the Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, disclosed that the airport occupies a total land area of 1,025 hectares. He explained that the land was acquired by the Abia State Government on behalf of the Federal Government to facilitate the development of the project.
Providing further insight into the evolution of the airport project, Chukwumerije revealed that it was originally conceived as a cargo airport but was subsequently upgraded to an international airport following the intervention and request of Governor Dr. Alex Otti’s administration.
The Commissioner also clarified the responsibilities of both tiers of government in the execution of the project, stating that while the Abia State Government is handling the construction of the runway, the Federal Government is responsible for the terminal building.
He further disclosed that significant progress has been achieved in the payment of compensation to affected landowners.
According to him, all individuals whose lands fall within the runway axis have already received their compensation, while the government continues to process payments for other affected persons.
“The initial intention was to build a cargo airport but with the intervention of the Abia state government, it was upgraded to an international airport.
“For the land acquisition, we have far gone in the payment of compensation. Compensation for everybody whose land acquired within the runway has been completed.
“As you can see behind me, the work is actively ongoing in terms of the construction of the runway,“ Chukwumerije stated.
Also addressing journalists, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands and Housing and Airport Coordinator, Pastor Okorougo Aji, revealed that construction work has already advanced to nearly one kilometre of the runway. He expressed confidence that the airport would be completed within the next two years as projected.
“As we speak now, we have gotten up to close to a kilometre. I want to tell you that within the next two years, as has been promised, this airport is going to be ready,“ Pastor Aji said.
Describing the airport project as a long-awaited dream gradually becoming a reality, Pastor Aji noted that the entire one-kilometre stretch of the runway has been cleared from the starting point to the endpoint. He added that intensive engineering activities, including cutting, filling, and compacting operations, are currently ongoing across the site.
“Here, there is no delays. You can see here, we are doing what is called cutting and we are filling and we are compacting,”“ he added.
Adding his voice, the Site Manager, Mr. Yusuf Tawk, assured stakeholders that work remains on course despite weather-related challenges occasioned by the rainy season. He noted that construction teams are making steady progress on critical sections of the runway while adhering to engineering standards.
“We are moving forward with the cut and fill area of all the runway.
“We are doing our best to achieve what is possible, especially during the rainy season,“ Mr. Tawk assured.
The inspection tour attracted several senior government officials, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma; the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu; alongside other top government functionaries.
The visit underscored the commitment of both the Abia State Government and the Federal Government to delivering a modern international airport that is expected to boost commerce, investment, logistics, tourism, and regional connectivity, while positioning Abia as a major tran
sportation and economic hub in Nigeria.