Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Commissioner on Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, has disclosed that the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport’s runway rehabilitation is set to be concluded in three months, with flight operations commencing in May.
The commissioner made this known to journalists shortly after an inspection at the Chuba Okadigbo airport runway in Onueke, Ezza South LGA of Ebonyi State, while expressing satisfaction with the swift progress of the work.
Obichukwu explained the decision to change the runway pattern from concrete to asphalt based on the recommendation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and praised Governor Francis Nwifuru for facilitating the project’s advancement. She expressed the ministry’s readiness to start operations by May, few months earlier than the initially anticipated August timeframe.
According to Obichukwu, “We are ensuring the safety of airways and the transporters using flights. Chuba Okadigbo International Airport started with private, international, domestic, and commercial flights. We discovered a need to asphalt the runway based on FAAN’s recommendation, as flights do not require the concrete initially used.”
She acknowledged the governor’s commitment, stating, “Governor Francis Nwifuru is desirous to put the airport in perfect use, making sure that Ebonyi is on the world map of travelers. We’ve completed the scarification necessary for asphalt, and technically, we are handling it. We anticipated completion by August, but now we are ready to start operations by May.”
“We appreciate Governor Francis Nwifuru, who ensured the project’s commencement. They’ve received thirty percent of the payment based on the advance payment guarantee from a reputable bank, enabling them to kick off the project. When completed, the airport will be an economic hub for Ebonyi and the entire southeast region, connecting Nigerians in diaspora.”
The engineer in charge of construction, Engr. Zubby Atta, corroborated, stating, “Now we are doing the first layer of asphalt, and we will finish the second layer in three months.” Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Nnanna Nwangele affirmed adequate security at the airport, emphasizing the governor’s commitment to protection of lives and properties.
Recall that Governor Francis Nwifuru had approved ₦13.7 billion for the repair of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport’s runway, with completion targeted within an eight-month period.
