Ebonyi aviation commissioner berates critics over Chuba Okadigbo Airport

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu has berated critics alleging that the departure lounge of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Abakiliki, was converted to a church service venue due to low usage.

Obichukwu explained that the staff of the Ministry held monthly prayers to re-dedicate and smoothen the recommencement of flight operations at the airport.

The airport was built by the immediate past governor of the state, David Umahi.

The commissioner said that the airport witnessed smooth landing and take off of aircrafts conveying prominent Nigerians who came to Ebonyi, for the burial of late former first civilian governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu.

She further said that activities has fully recommenced at the Chuba Okadigbo airport since after the rehabilitation of the runway, and called for the patronage of the general public and air travellers towards boosting the internally generated revenue of the state.

Obichukwu said the essence of the monthly prayer service by the staff of the Ministry was to seek God’s presence and protection for all travellers.

The aviation commissioner, in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, described the critics who alleged that the airport lounge was converted to church service avenue as ‘enemies of peace and progress of the modern Ebonyi State”.

She said: “We have taken off flight operations, and we are very busy trying to. Of course we held our monthly prayers to kick off the recommencement of flight operations.

“The critics are enemies of development, peace and progress in Ebonyi, who doesn’t see anything good in the current administration.

“But thanks to our capacity governor, Francis Nwifuru, who has shamed them by delivering a quality and long lasting projects, in addition with the numerous empowerment and employment taking place in all parts of the state, through his people’s charter of needs.

“You know that after the rehabilitation of the Chuba Okadigbo Airport runway, and completion of the asphalting, we were even not sure, but by the grace of God and appreciation to our able governor, Nwifuru, who provided all things to ensure that the airport’s runway and other facilities are ready, and today, we are proud to say, and to thank all the regulatory bodies in Nigeria – the FAN, NACA, NCAA, NEMA, and the Nigeria estate management for their doggedness in ensuring that the airport recommences flight operations as usual,” she stressed.