The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Thursday, revealed how he spent thirty-six billion naira to build President Muhammed Buhari international airport, located at Onueke in Ezza South LGA.
Umahi made this known while addressing stakeholders of the state and the delegation of the Federal Ministry of Aviation during the flight test that took place at the Onueke airport.
The Voice gathered that two Air Peace Hopper airlines, No. 5N-BXF and No. 5-BUY which landed at the airport at about 3:45pm and 4:10 pm respectively, carried over one hundred passengers from Lagos and Abuja to the admiration of thousands of Ebonyians.
Governor Dave Umahi expressed gratitude to God for the landing of the aircraft.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving N10bn for the takeoff of the airport and named the airport after him.
He described the airport as the fastest-approved airport in Nigeria.
“This entire project so far is 36 billion including the equipment, we have the best equipment in this country. So what is remaining now is the Exude lightening, which we have paid for, both the taxi way and the runway and so work continues. And we have awarded the taxi way, so we need to have this place to be the best and meet the standard.
“Going forward in the first week of May, we intend to fund free of charge two aircraft per week , two from Lagos, two from Abuja. Just know the days of flight, you don’t need to pay, we will continue to pay for the next four weeks.”
Former Governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi said the project will connect the state to the world.
He noted that the state needs an airport contrary to some views of those against such a project.
“Yes, we need an airport. The world of yesterday is not more world of today. We are thankful to God for what has happened to my state”, he stated.
The representative of the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, Mr Collins described the landing at the airport as historic.
“Coming to Ebonyi is a history I will never forget in my life. We will come and do more flights here”, he stated.
