Ebonyi airport awaiting NCAA, FAAN nod to commence operation

Amarachi Ehia, Abakaliki

The Commissioner for Aviation and Transportation Technology Ebonyi state, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu has said that Chuba Okadigbo International airport, Onueke was set to commence flight operations.

This was as she noted that the state is waiting for permission from Nigeria civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Interacting with Business Affairs in Abakalikiki, Obichukwu disclosed that the airport has passed almost all the tests required by these regulatory authorities.

She appealed to the intending costumers to be patient noting that Governor Francis Nwifuru of the state was doing all he could to ensure the regulatory authorities licensed the airport for business.

“We are already engaging necessary authorities, we have regulation, we have regulatory authorities that will give us the permission. So right now, we have passed almost all their test we were waiting for the friction test and the other entire test that was needed and now by the Grace of God, we are getting through.

“I plead with Ebonyi people Aviation is like hospital, we are talking about safety of lives, is not ordinary buy and sale in the market so everything that needs to be done should be done in accurate regulations.

While Obichukwu emphasized that only federal Ministry of Aviation could give accurate amount spent on the airport, she disclosed that N17 billion has being spent on the runway.

“The run way cost N17 billion and we are happy that even the NCCA that came, they applauded our Governor Nwifuru for a good job well done, after the measured the road , shoulder, everything around the runway was accurate and we are happy.

“So the funds spent so far are determined by federal ministry of aviation, quantity surveyors are working on it. There are so many things that need to be done and we are hoping to get through it. On how to generate IGR, the commissioner said “I am very sure of IGR. The airport is the catalyst to the economic development of any State.

“In the country we have 22 airport which 5 among them are international airports and Ebonyi is going to be among them once we receive the license to start flying and looking at the strategy position of the airport, our catchment areas are not in doubt talk of Ikom, Benue, Kogi and Abia states these are the areas we are hoping and is not only the human traffic we are talking of cargo airport in other to address the market flow of Ebonyi State.

“We are going to be linking with other countries and I have started receiving applications from Dubai so that they could be coming here to buy our produce and go back to their country. So the economic revival and boost cannot be emphasizing once we commence flight operation” she stated.