ANAMBRA AIRPORT COMES ALIVE WITH MAIDEN FLIGHT
Reporter : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
It was a historic event as the government and people of Anambra State witnessed the maiden demonstration flight at the Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area.
The project, which commenced in the heat of COVID-19 pandemic about a year ago, is more than ninety percent completed, just as promised by Governor Willie Obiano.
The Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport in Umueri has the second-longest runway in Nigeria, measuring 3.7km in length and 60 metres wide, next to only Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
It was celebration galore as the high and mighty in the state and outside the state witnessed the maiden demonstration of fight at the airport.
Two Air Peace flights and a private jet landed at the Umueri International Passenger and Cargo Airport.
The first flight landed at about 2:27pm, the second plane landed at 3:12pm while the private jet landed at 3:25pm.
Governor Willie Obiano, who said the dream of the airport began thirty years ago when his predecessors acquired a land at Oba, explained that government did not borrow a kobo to build the airport.
While saying that the airport was in fulfillment of of his mission and vision statement, Governor Obiano said that he was optimistic of inaugurating the airport, which experts said is the best in Africa.
He noted that his administration had done over Seventy-seven roads and eighteen bridges, noting that the International Conference Centre Awka was nearing completion.
The Governor, who also said that the Awka City Township Stadium would be inaugurated soon, expressed joy that the airport would be one of the busiest in the country and would provide jobs for the unemployed.
The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor, noted that most of the requirements needed at the airport were 90 percent ready.
Expressing his heart felt joy, Mr. Allen Onyema who discribed the airport runway as the best in Africa, maintained that it would not serve only the people of the state but Nigeria in general.
Some of the pilots who spoke with Radio Nigeria, expressed joy that the weather was very conducive and that the virgin airport was one of the best in Africa.
Others who lend their voices, commended Governor Obiano for fulfilling his campaign promises.