FG TEAM VISITS ABIA TO INSPECT SITE OF NEW AIRPORT, AS GOV OTTI ANNOUNCES ACCESS BANK WILLING PARTNER

A Federal Government team from the Ministry of Aviation has visited Abia State to inspect a proposed site for a new airport planned for the State.

This comes as Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has declared that one of Nigeria's leading financial institutions, Access Bank, has expressed willingness to partner with the State Government in developing the airport project.

Led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, the Federal Government team said that it was in the state to ensure that the land and location approved for the project are in alignment with regulatory requirement for the siting of an airport.

Dr. Meribeole said the Federal Government is desirous of delivering the airport in record time, hence the visit by the team made up of representatives of all the various aviation agencies responsible for approvals and supervision of airports in the country to meet required standards.

Aviation agencies in the team included the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Meribeole, while acknowledging the visionary leadership of Governor Otti, said members of his team are experts in their various agencies and that the Abia airport project has already been captured in the 2024 Federal Appropriation Act, but as an airstrip.

He stated the fact that airport projects are capital intensive, adding however that the advantage of having an airport cannot be overemphasised as it would lead to the accelerated development of the state through job creation, promotion of commerce, revenue generation, among others.

Governor Otti, who warmly received the Federal aviation team, thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the development of an airstrip for Abia.

He said even though the national budget made provision for an airstrip, Abia State Government would work with the Federal Government to upscale the airstrip to a full-fledged airport, as the major difference between an airport and airstrip is the length and size of the runway.

"First of all, I will like to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for consenting to setting up an airstrip in Abia and for also including it in 2024 budget as approved.

"Even if the money there may not complete it, but a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. So, we are grateful to him.

"We also want to say a big thanks to my friend and brother, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Barr. Festus Kyamo, SAN, for all what he’s been doing to ensure that this becomes a reality. We are always on the line discussing, coming up with ideas on how to fast track this.

"I want to thank you for also joining us to be in a hurry to deliver this project. Once we had agreed, we started looking for a suitable land because that is the most important in an airport. There were a few places that were mapped out earlier, but when we went on physical inspection, we found out that some of those places do not have enough space or are not properly located for the airport.

"One other important thing about airport is location, so we now zeroed in on the place that you are looking at, at the moment. We didn’t just identify that location, we went the extra mile of identifying the owners of the land because it is a huge parcel of land. We had already started engaging with them," Governor Otti stated.

The Governor assured the team of the State Government's preparedness to see to the actualisation of the project in record time, as the people of Abia are in a hurry to have an airport of their own, being one of the two states remaining in Nigeria without an airport. The other is Osun State.

"One thing you can take away from here is that the State will actually be leading, and if anything gets delayed, it’s because it is coming from the center; but for us, we are in a hurry.

"I’m personally on this, and I get briefing on a daily bases and any day I don’t get briefing, I check on them, like, where are we on this?

"So, this is to assure you that we are more than ready and that everything that you require, you will receive on record time. And, we hope that at least in the next one year, an airport would be standing. Once we have the runway and have the terminal building, the rest will come from time to time," he assured.

The Federal aviation team's visit coincided with that of Access Bank, led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna.

Governor Otti expressed the willingness of Access Bank to participate and partner with Abia State Government in the airport project "to ensure that liquidity does not become a problem".

According to Governor Otti, Access Bank has some experience in airport project financing, having participated in delivering the Ogun State airport.

"I had suggested to the CEO that the team needs to sit down with him so that we can have them onboard early enough. Our attitude is not to borrow until it becomes absolutely necessary. If they had also got involved in one and delivered it then we can learn from the mistakes they made in those ones and then build on the good things that we can pick up," the Governor said.

KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
May 23, 2024.

Yarimo food is done 😂😂

If you want to know why Abia needs an Airport, just see what Anambra is enjoying.

1hr Lagos to Anambra.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhjv8dLzxE

Good development

Thought they condemned the idea of having an airport as planned by the Ikpeazu regime, saying, it wasn't a priority project.

Everything starts and end on media otti is only interested in snapping pictures

When Ebonyi built theirs, Abians were talking with kerosene in their mouths, calling it a white elephant project because Enugu has an airport and it isn't far to Ebonyi.

Now that Abia wants to build an airport and Imo has an airport, let them come and tell us if Abia is far to Imo or if Abia airport is not a white elephant project.

yarimo:
Everything starts and end on media otti is only interested in snapping pictures

don't forget to cry dis night. And pls while crying, don't ever think about suicide...we want u alive to see d good deeds of Otti. Pained user!

Aba and Abia are about to be great. Again.

hammer567:
If you want to know why Abia needs an Airport, just see what Anambra is enjoying.

1hr Lagos to Anambra.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhjv8dLzxE

There is a poor interstate flight activities in Nigeria, most airport only go to lagos or maybe Abuja.

"I want to thank you for also joining us to be in a hurry to deliver this project. Once we had agreed, we started looking for a suitable land because that is the most important in an airport. There were a few places that were mapped out earlier, but when we went on physical inspection, we found out that some of those places do not have enough space or are not properly located for the airport.


They should just say they want to build the airport in the bush again, except maybe the one lagos.

They should either start building them close to a city or they make a rapid development within the airport surroundings.

okoo

hammer567:
If you want to know why Abia needs an Airport, just see what Anambra is enjoying.

1hr Lagos to Anambra.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhjv8dLzxE

Well, it needs to be very close to Aba. If it’s not closer to Aba than Imo airport that is in Owerrinta, then it’s not worth it.

yarimo:
Everything starts and end on media otti is only interested in snapping pictures

Only God knows how much Otti spends on media.

His boys are all over social media especially Nairaland.

Sign one agreement, snap 2,000 pictures.

I would be surprised if his photographer doesn't own a mansion.

ok

Nice development
Meanwhile
Learn how to make money online, check my signature in my profile.

Nice

Airport without?

White Elephant Project Alert!

What is the economic need for an Airport in Abia state!

Could the fund be invested in a better project that will benefit Abians?

We have functional illiterates as leaders walahai!

Another waste of money loading.What's the need of building an airport when 3 of ur neighbouring SE states already have airports? Money that should have been channeled into something worthwhile is what they`re abt wasting on something that won't have any economic importance. And the funny thing is that the same pple condemning the fg for planning to build the Lagos/Calabar coastal rd are the ones that will praise Otti for this waste. Reason why i don`t believe in any Nigerian politician. They`re only angels when they`re not in authority or power.

Noted.

yarimo:
Everything starts and end on media otti is only interested in snapping pictures

Dapo Abiodun son

yarimo:
Everything starts and end on media otti is only interested in snapping pictures

TO BEAT YOU DE HUNGRY ME. ENEMY OF PROGRESS

Is that what's important now?

Hmmmm

I'm sure if this was seaport.... It wouldn't see the light of the day as Lagos state politics to bench every other seaports in Nigeria gets interesting.

SyrusdeHansome:
Another waste of money loading.What's the need of building an airport when 3 of ur neighbouring SE states already have airports? Money that should have been channeled into something worthwhile is what they`re abt on something that won't have any economic importance.

WETIN CONCERN YOU FOR WETIN NO CONCERN YOU

Nothing concern me but E dey mind

Otti is working

Tinubu is just empty

Chikel20000:
don't forget to cry dis night. And pls while crying, don't ever think about suicide...we want u alive to see d good deeds of Otti. Pained user!

abeg helep me give am one bitter OBI jare!

Lol governors have moved from road repairs to airport cash out. But Un4tunately for ikpeazu him don cough out the airport bar.