It was dreams come true on Saturday for the people of south-east Nigeria as the first international flight took off from the remodeled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Airline that recorded the first, Ethiopian Airlines had landed at the airport amidst jubilation and took of about two hours later after brief ceremony marking the historic landing and take-off.
Present at the airport were all the Governors of the zone with the exemption of Rochas Okorocha of Imo. Governors Sullivan Chime-Enugu, Theodre Orji-Abia, Martin Elechi-Ebonyi and Peter Obi-Anambra were on ground to witness the ceremony.
From the Federal Government side were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Minsters of Finance- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal, Power- Prof Chinedu Nebo, Labour and Productivity and Stella Oduah- Aviation.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, led members of the National Assembly from the zone while businessmen and traditional rulers and APGA chairman were not left out.
The Boeing 737-800 on the fleet of Ethiopian Airlines which had landed at exactly 12.14 pm, departed for Addis Ababa at exactly 2.30 pm with 153 passengers on board, including Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu and Governors Sullivan Chime and Martin Elechi, travelling out of the country.
The Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua, had this to say “This is a confirmation that what president Goodluck Jonathan says he does, he told the southeasterners that they would get this after all these years, he has done it for them. All thanks to him.”
It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan, had during the 2011 presidential campaign promised the south-easterners that if elected, he would upgrade the Enugu local Airport to international airport.
