The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, turned down a Federal Government proposal to build an airstrip in the state, choosing instead to pursue the development of a full-fledged international airport.
Keyamo also disclosed that discussions were underway to launch the first direct international cargo flight from Guangzhou to Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
Speaking during the unveiling of two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft acquired by United Nigeria Airlines in Lagos, the minister said the Federal Government had originally included an airstrip project for Abia State in the 2024 budget as part of efforts to expand aviation infrastructure nationwide.
According to him, the proposal followed his recommendation to President Bola Tinubu that Abia was the only state in the South-East without either an airport or an airstrip.
Keyamo said Governor Otti later approached the President with a proposal to transform the project into an international airport through a counterpart funding arrangement.
“When we came to power, I went to Mr President saying Abia does not have an airstrip or an airport in the whole of the South-East. So, he told me to put it in the budget. In the 2024 budget, we put the Abia airstrip as one of our first projects.
“However, credit to Dr Alex Otti, who did not stop at that. He went straight to Mr President behind me and said, ‘Sir, bring the money for the airstrip, I have counterpart funding. I will now make it a full international airport.’ He said, ‘Don’t give me an airstrip, but bring the money. With counterpart funding, I will build a full-fledged international airport in Umauhia, Abia State. That project has taken off under his guidance. In fact, Abia has brought more money than the federal government.”
On plans for direct cargo operations between China and Enugu, the minister said the Enugu State Government intends to position the airport as a logistics hub for the South-East region.
“They (Enugu State government) want to make it (Enugu Airport) a cargo hub for the whole of the South-East.
“We are negotiating for the first flight from Guangzhou straight to Enugu in December. I am working with the governor of Enugu State. It will enable all traders, especially our brothers from the South-East who do business in China, to go twice every week, put all their goods into one cargo, and have it go straight from Guangzhou to Enugu. Then it can be delivered to Onitsha and Aba.”
