Anambra govt faults FG’s claim of building airport in state

Anambra State Government has said that the Federal Government is not building any airport in the state.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had stated before the Senate Committee on Aviation on Tuesday that the Federal Government was building 10 airports in the country, including in Anambra.

But the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said yesterday that the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport at Umueri in Anambra East Council, was being developed solely by the state government.

Giving details of the cargo airport, Adinuba said it was one of the two biggest airports in Nigeria.

“Its runway is 3.7 kilometres long. Its control tower is 11-storey, the tallest in Nigeria. The airport is the most modern in Nigeria, designed to revolutionise commerce in Nigeria, particularly export and import business.

“Anambra people are easily the greatest importers in West Africa, and the people have 63 major markets, including the famous Onitsha Market, the biggest open market in West Africa,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the Anambra airport would be ready for commissioning in April 2021.

According to him, other mega projects being executed by the state government without credit facilities from any financial institution include the Awka City Stadium and the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Awka, with 10,000 sitting capacity, the largest in Africa.

Part of the statement reads: “Anambra State Government officials have since early this morning been inundated with inquiries by Nigerians throughout the country and beyond about a supposed claim by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, before the Senate Committee on Aviation yesterday that the Federal Government is building 10 airports in the country, including in Anambra.

“Modern and big as Anambra State International and Passenger Airport is, the state government is building it without a loan from any financial institution anywhere in the world.”

“The Federal Government has been very cooperative in developing the airport. The state government, for instance, has been working closely with the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”