By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
After an initial hiccups occasioned by mixed messaging on the October 30 official commissioning of the newly built Anambra International Cargo Airport in Umueri, Governor Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano on Saturday declared the airport operational at a colourful event.
Speaking at the auspicious occasion attended by the top officials of his government; Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Okafor; Clergymen; Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Oye and his predecessor, Victor Umeh and captains of industries, Obiano expressed his joy for commissioning the airport.
According to him: “it is a thing of joy to see that Ndi Anambra has their own airport in my time as their Executive Governor. For the avoidance of doubt, I have with me the Certificate of Operations for this airport”.
“In fact, I was invited to Abuja on Friday to collect the Certificate. And I have it here and about seven airlines have signified their readiness to operate flights from this airport”.
The Governor said some of the airlines are Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Anam Jets and three others, adding that Air Peace would have commenced full operations on Saturday but one of the regulatory authorities insisted that they open their operational counters at the airport first.
Giving the statistical data of the new airport, he assured the world that the airport meets international standard as specified by the international and national aviation authorities.
Said he: “Anambra International Cargo/ Passengers Airport has Certification from the Ministry of Aviation; Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NEMA and NiaMet. We have had test flights and everything is perfect”.
“Also, I want to tell you all that the biggest Airbus and Boeing 727 wide-body aircrafts can land in this airport. We built it to accommodate eight Boeing aircrafts at the same time. It is important to note that this airport is a Category (CAT) 9 while the airport boasts of the most modern Runway Lighting, Meteorological house, Control Tower with automatic fire-fighting water sprinklers and 400 passenger hall”.
Governor Obiano however told the people of Anambra that the long wait for their own airport has ended.
Said he: “Ndi Anambra, the 30 years wait for your own airport has ended today as our airport is now a reality with the Commissioning today. People kept asking me why must Anambra have an airport when our neighbouring states have airports we can use. But I have always asked them why should we not have our own”.
The Governor argued that Anambra state with the largest concentration of big markets in Nigeria deserves an airport, saying that ” with 10 biggest markets in West Africa, a large auto spare parts markets, highest number of private jet owners in Africa and huge number of itinerant traders, we need our own airport her”.
He also said that the good news is that Anambra state did not borrow a dime from the banks, federal government nor took foreign loans like the federal government and many state governments in Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks on the occasion, Anambra State Commissioner of Works, Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor posited that Obiano’s administration has paid up every fee demanded by the relevant federal government regulatory authorities to certify the airport.
“I want to tell the world that this airport is of international standard. It has also passed every test required by federal aviation regulatory authorities and it can be verified by anybody. Those playing politics with it should stop”, Ifejiofor stated.
According to him: ” All the Directors of the aviation regulatory authorities have been at this airport. From the beginning of the project till now. We paid NCAA a sum of N100 million and later another sum of N25 million. Infact, the Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu has been here and has praised this airport. NCAA came to inspect the airport again on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 and certified it ready to operate”.
He also said: “Since the Test- Flight, seven aircrafts have landed and taken off in this airport including that aircraft carrying our Governor (Obiano).
It has 3.5 kilometre Runway on both sides of the Terminal building and only second to Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos,”
