All is set to kick off construction work on the long-awaited Abia Airport in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area in Nigeria.
The Abia state government has confirmed that construction work will officially commence on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The announcement was made by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, in a statement shared on his official Facebook account.
He also revealed that the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will flag the ceremony. It was reported that the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, stated: “Initially, this was not a priority project for the state government.
“However, when the federal government decided to build an airstrip in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti partnered with the federal government to convert the airstrip into a full airport project. This collaboration will result in the construction of a runway capable of accommodating larger aircraft once completed.”
Also, Caleb Ajagba, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, revealed that the state government has commenced community engagements to communicate the project's benefits. It was also reported that he noted the government had engaged the village heads of various communities and secured their consent for the project.
He said: “We are ready, there is no opposition to the project among the leaders, but this meeting was to prepare the minds towards receiving the government’s delegation that was set to visit and interface with the community by community, which started from Tuesday, December 10." In a related development, it was reported that work has also begun on the construction of Gusau International Airport in Zamfara State.
According to Dauda Lawal, the Governor of Zamfara State, the new airport is designed to accommodate domestic and international flights. He also revealed that the airport will be smart and equipped with modern facilities.
