Ebonyi Govt Sets To Float 4 Aircrafts, Completes Runway

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi state government has said that plans are on ground to float four aircrafts with the capacity of over fifty passengers as they have completed the runway of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport Onueke. The state Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu made this known to newsmen during inspection of the project on Friday.

Obichukwu, who explained that the 3.1 metres runway has been completed and currently being marked adding that the state government is ready to float four aircrafts as they wait for the commissioning of the runway by the president Bola Tinubu. According to her, "If you do not give out what you are doing, you will not be able to celebrate what you have done, and if you do not blow your trumpet well, they'll blow it wrongly for you.

"I purposely want to host you as this is the third time am hosting all the press men in the state and across the state because, What is well done should be talked about and what's negatively done should equally be corrected. "And today, from the commencement of this project,I invited all of you, at the middle of the project, the completing of the work and as the asphalting is ended and rehabilitation. "I am calling all of you, to come and see because we're starting the marking with berger paint which our workers are on the field just that the Nimet based on their prediction that it would rain today and they have to suspend work so that the paint will not be marred." Obi Chukwu stressed.

The state Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology who said that the state government gave the project a top priority maintained that the runway was enough for three flights to land on it a time. She further emphasized that the airport would serve for both passenger and cargo and assured users of adequate necessity needed to give the airport the global outlook. "Permit me to announce to you that His Excellency, Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru is equally passionate of launching our own flight and he is planning to launch four flights at a time, and when it comes, everybody will hear it. You may not know the value of development, but I want to tell you that any particular development must give you some headache, either some people may be displaced, the tighten of your pocket to make sure that economically, you maximize what you have.

"His Excellency is looking at Ebonyi with this type of international airport as the economic hub of South East. believing me you, in the next eight months or one year you will start seeing what Iam talking about "So, we are here for all of you to see what His Excellency, Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru has been able to do with the budget he gave for this project. "He gave it a top priority and today,we are happy that we have the best international airport runway in Nigeria. Not saying that to show pride because we're the one who did it, but because quality job was done. if you look at the shoulder; the main runway, you will believe me you that about three flights will land at thesame time in this airport. "Both landing and taking off at the International airport Onueke Ebonyi state is free, firm and safest. You wouldn't have any problem, with the fitness we have here, even from the base of the runway where we have concrete before the asphalting, I don't think any other can beat this particular one. When asked if the state government intend to lease the prospective flights once launched, she explained that the state has no plan going into leasing nor CRJ as the flight would accommodate about sixty passengers. "We may go beyond Ibom Air, they started with leasing. we may not go into leasing. We want to have our own and may not go into CRJ , we want to have something bigger than CRJ as CRJ may have about 30-40 people but we are going to have something bigger than CRJ that will accommodate about 60 passengers. "And recall, we are going to equally have flight for cargo. This airport is for both human and cargo. When I was in Addis Ababa I saw the real cargo department where they have all the warehouses:cassava, palm oil, yam, garri and all sorts. we'll have it here to export our agricultural produce. She said