From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti has commended President Bola Tinubu for his practical commitment to the rapid social economic development of the South East geopolitical zone.
Otti made the commendation when he and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, jointly performed the ground breaking ceremony of the new Abia Airport project at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.
Expressing joy over the project, the governor said the President not only approved the initial plan to build an airstrip in the state, but also magnanimously consented to the state government’s proposal to expand the scope of the project to become a full fledged airport.
He said the new airport, a signature project of his administration in partnership with the Federal Government, was expected when completed, to transform the state’s transport system by enhancing connectivity through air-travel and providing job opportunities for Abians and residents through investments in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging partnerships and opportunities to drive sustainable development initiatives that would revolutionise the state’s socio-economic landscape.
Otti announced the planned development of an airport city, including the revitalisation of the Nsulu Games Village and the establishment of hotels and other facilities to support tourism and business activities.
He thanked the land donor communities of Ubaha, Umuala, Ikputu, Umuosu, Umuezeukwu, Umuode and Umuomainta Nvosi for their generosity and support for the project and disclosed that the state has started the preparation for the payment of compensation to genuine land owners.
He announced that the project would be completed in 36 months and thanked all stakeholders, who contributed to making the project a reality
Keyamo thanked Otti for partnering the Federal Government in converting the project initially conceptualised as an airstrip to a full fledged airport, in addition to his commitment to provide all that is required, including counterpart funding for the project.
The minister, while noting that Abia is the heartbeat of industrialisation of the South East region, described the airport as a veritable enabler for economic and social development.
He said it was the vision of President Tinubu that Abia be connected to the rest of the world through the project and assured that the people of Nsulu community would be given first considerations in appointment and employment in the airport project.
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said Tinubu was deliberate about the development of the South East and Abia in particular.