Three aircraft landed at the newly constructed Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, yesterday, laying to rest controversies about the state of the airport project.

Two of the aircraft in the fleet of Air Peace Airlines landed at exactly 2:24p.m. and 2:44p.m. respectively while the third, a private jet owned by chairman of Nest Oil, Mr. Ernest Obiejesi, landed at 3:30p.m., amidst jubilation.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano while speaking at the test landing of aircraft at the airport, described it as the most audacious of his projects, adding that the project began in January 2020, and was completed at exactly 15 months.

He said:

Our brother, Allen Onyema volunteered the aircraft for this air landing test at no cost to us.

We waited patiently for this day and it is sunrise in Anambra State today. The airport is the most audacious project and the most remarkable too of all my projects.

We worked on this airport during the pandemic, and we rose above the gloom and doom of COVID-19 to build this airport in 15 months. The most interesting thing for me is that Anambra did not borrow a Kobo to build it,

Obiano said.

Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema who was a lone passenger in one of his aircraft, which touched down at the airport at exactly 2:24p.m., expressed joy at the commencement of flight at the airport.

He said,

I shed tears when I landed here because many didn’t believe that this day will come.

Many people condemned me when I talked about the pace of work here. I thank the federal government for the approval of this airport and the test landing. It is the fastest approval that has ever been made, and I believe this is because of the quality of work.

This is the first time any plane can do a test land with a big plane. We brought a small one and a big one here. My triple seven aircraft went abroad, else I would have brought it to prove a point, this airport can land an Airbus, which is the biggest airplane. Thanks to Buhari for allowing this day to happen. This airport will generate millions of jobs for our people,

Onyema said.

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor who handled the project described the project as a promise made and also delivered.

The governor promised to deliver the airport in April and today he is making history by delivering as promised. We started this project in January 2020.

The firehouse, tower, tarmac, apron, terminal building are all undergoing completion. What we have here can take an Airbus. All equipment to be used in the airport including the terminal building and landing equipment have all been paid for.

The governor was very determined about delivering this project, and he was always here from the time we started. I remember that each time he came, he would always ask what he should expect to see when next he comes, and thank God the project is a reality today.

The ceremony was attended by captains of industry in Anambra, top politicians including governorship hopefuls of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and many supporters.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.