Abia airport will not be abandoned, Gov Otti assures

Mr Otti thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the siting of an airport in the state and for choosing Nsulu as a place for it.

News Agency of Nigeria • January 9, 2025

Governor Alex Otti Credit : daily post

Governor Alex Otti of Abia said on Thursday that the Abia airport project would be completed on schedule.

Mr Otto said after a meeting of the state government with Nsulu Airport Communities Landowners Forum in Umuahia that his administration had taken several steps to ensure the project would not be abandoned.

The governor, represented by his chief of staff, Caleb Ajagba, expressed the government’s resolve to constantly engage host communities to secure their “productive collaboration” toward the project.

“We have tried to underscore the need to move forward in order to make sure that the project is actualised and completed on schedule.

“There is no doubt that all of us here are on the same page in terms of the relevance and importance of this project to Abia,” said Mr Otti.

He said the government had taken into cognisance that the project would require a lot of sacrifice from host communities.

“We have been able to touch base with them, also to seek their productive collaboration to make sure that work continues within the space that has been projected for the completion of this airport,” he said.

Mr Otti thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the siting of an airport in the state and for choosing Nsulu as its location.

He also thanked the people of Nsulu for their commitment to his administration’s agenda and for ensuring that every project initiated in Abia would be completed.

The governor said the meeting and engagement would continue until the completion of the project and ensure the identification of genuine landowners.

“We have agreed that after that is done, enumeration will continue, and adequate compensation will be paid.

“We also agreed that Abia indigenes, especially Nsulu people, will have the right to work and benefit from the project, so the first right of employment will be extended to Nsulu people.

“Also, we are on the same page that, as earmarked, the project will not be abandoned,” he said.

A representative of the forum, Uzo Azubuike, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting.

(NAN)

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