The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, turned down the Federal Government’s proposal to construct an airstrip in the state, opting instead for a full-scale international airport.
Speaking during the unveiling of two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft acquired by United Nigeria Airlines in Lagos, Keyamo explained that the Federal Government had included an airstrip project for Abia in the 2024 budget as part of efforts to improve aviation infrastructure nationwide.
According to the minister, the initiative followed his recommendation to President Bola Tinubu that Abia remained the only state in the South-East without either an airport or an airstrip.
However, Keyamo revealed that Otti later approached the President directly with a proposal to transform the project into an international airport through a counterpart funding arrangement.
“When we assumed office, I informed Mr President that Abia lacked both an airport and an airstrip. He directed that the project be included in the budget, and the Abia airstrip became one of our priority projects in 2024,” Keyamo said.
He added that Otti subsequently met with Tinubu and requested that the funding earmarked for the airstrip be redirected towards developing a full-fledged international airport in Umuahia, with the state government contributing counterpart funds.
The minister commended the governor’s commitment, noting that Abia State has already invested more resources into the project than the Federal Government.
Keyamo also disclosed ongoing discussions aimed at launching the first direct international cargo flight from Guangzhou, China, to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
According to him, the Enugu State Government is positioning the airport as a major cargo hub for the South-East region.
“We are working towards having the first direct cargo flight from Guangzhou to Enugu by December,” he said. “This will provide traders, particularly those from the South-East who conduct business in China, a more efficient way to transport goods directly to the region, with onward distribution to commercial centres such as Onitsha and Aba.”
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