Skip to main content

Youths reject opening of Akanu Ibiam international airport

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), Worldwide Monday, said that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu cannot be reopened without installation of Night landing facilities.

The airport was shutdown late 2019 by the federal government in order to work on the runways, which was reportedly damaged.

It was also gathered that since the airport was upgraded to international airport in 2010, a lot of upgrading is  needed to be done to qualify for new standard.

But OYC, in a  statement signed and issued to journalists in Abakaliki by its President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, insisted that, from their investigations, the airport will remain a local one without Night Landing facilities.

They noted that leaked picture of the airport by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was not for the reopening of the airfield, but for the necessary things to be put in place.

The group commended President Muhammadu Buhari and southeast Governors for ensuring the airport is upgraded.

The statement reads, "Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has seen the recent leaked pictures of Akanu Ibiam international Airport, Enugu by FAAN and Igbo youths sent an undercover delegation to inspect, investigate and cross check the claims of the new leaked looks of the new Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu State and see the facilities installed.

"OYC appreciates the renovations and facilities at the airport, but, contrary to our expectations, there is no Night Landing facility at the airport. We wish to categorically reject any move to reopen the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu without Night landing facilities as the Igbo don't want to believe the rationale behind the release of the leaked pictures by FAAN was to fix a date for the reopening of the airport, when Night landing facilities are still missing and will deny direct international flights from any part of the world to connect Igbo land.

"We wish to alert the Igbo that they should pressurise the Minister of Aviation, Sirika Hadi, to resist any temptation to re open Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, except the Night Landing facilities are fixed; to ensure that international flights connect and land in Enugu."

He added: "As we confirmed from the contractor, there's no single night landing facility, which puts the status of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu as a local airport. Any attempt to open the airport in June will be resisted by the Igbo.

"OYC commends President Muhammadu Buhari and Southeast Governors Forum, led by Governor Dave Umahi, for ensuring that necessary action was taken to upgrade the only functional international airport in the Southeast.

"However, we want to alert the Southeast Governors committee on Enugu Airport, chaired by Engr Chris Okoye, of the missing Night Landing facilities at the airport, which was deliberate and intentional. Igbo youths want the South East Governors to ensure that night landing facilities are fixed in Enugu Airport before re opening.

"We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct Minister of Aviation, Sirika Hadi, to ensure that all night landing facilities are fixed before reopening; to avoid misinformation and misinterpretation regards to the reopening of the Enugu Airport."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Iheukwumere builds house for homeless man in Afikpo

The three-bedroom flat Iheukwumere built for Jaguar A House of Assembly aspirant in Afikpo, Ebonyi state, Mr Iheukwumere Okogwu Otu, has handed over a three-bedroom flat he built for a homeless man in Ezi Agbii, Ukpa, in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi state. Iheukwumere, who is the Special Adviser (SA) to Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi, member representing Afikpo North East Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly (EBHA), made the donation Tuesday during his birthday celebration. In an exclusive chat with Paul Okah Blog , Iheukwumere said that the kind gesture was borne out of the fact that the milk of kindness flowing in his veins could not allow him to bear the sight of the beneficiary, Mr Chukwu Oko (a.k.a Jaguar) being homeless. Iheukwumere said that, despite having limited resources, he dedicated his salary as SA to start the project in 2014, due to the fact that the beneficiary had been sleeping outside with his six children since 2007. He sa...
2 comments
Read more

Don't quit by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you're trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup; and he learned too late when the night came down, how close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians with tax demands, ex-SSG implores Umahi

Former Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh, has implored the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, to desist from inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians. In an open letter he made available to Paulokahblog Friday morning, Odoh said that, "as a way of cushioning the devastating effects of the covid-19 pandemic on Ebonyi’s struggling economy, there is urgent need to jettison the collection of tenement rates/ground rents from landlords, excessive/forceful drive for quarry haulage levies and waiving of personal income taxes".  Odoh regretted that, despite the efforts of the state government in policing its borders against the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebonyi State, as of May 21, has recorded 13 cases and expressed hope that the situation would not get worse in the state in particular and Nigeria in general, even as he pledged support for the state government in ensuring that the active cases are managed successfully "to t...
Post a Comment
Read more