The establishment of the Muhammadu Buhari (now Chuba Okadigbo) International Airport, located in Onueke in the Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, South-East of Nigeria has remained a subject of discourse among both economic and non-economic experts. The controversies hinge on the economic viability of the airport; how the N10 billion approved for the project by the then Federal Government under Buhari’s watch was expended by the then David Umahi’s administration; the over-publicised N36 billion spent for the construction of the project and who the contractors were; and the proposed N13 billion expenditure by the current state government under Governor Francis Nwifuru, for runway repairs.
Before the construction of the airport, no fewer than 200 houses were demolished in the area by the then-Umahi-led state government. The development saw to the displacement of over 800 natives including elderly men/women and nursing mothers. Investigations by South-East PUNCH revealed that most of the owners of the affected houses were never paid compensation. The few that were lucky got paltry sums ranging from N200,000 to N400,000. Today, amid the suffering and hardship residents of the state contend with, the airport which is supposed to be a revenue-generating enterprise is currently lying economically lifeless and inactive, yet drains the scarce resources of the ‘starter’ state.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria, including the Vice President, the Minister of Aviation, and the Governor of Ebonyi State. The ceremony was a grand affair, with music, dance, and speeches by dignitaries. The event was a significant moment for Ebonyi State, marking the completion of a long-awaited project. The airport is expected to boost the state’s economy by attracting tourists and investors.
The project, a large-scale infrastructure project, has faced significant opposition from various stakeholders. These stakeholders have expressed their concerns about the project’s potential negative impacts on the local community and the economy. They have also raised concerns about the project’s potential for corruption and economic sabotage. **Detailed Text:**
The project, a colossal undertaking aimed at transforming the landscape of the region, has been met with a wave of disapproval from a diverse array of stakeholders.
“They, however, didn’t get the runway right as it is not smooth for aircraft to land.” Noting that the situation has caused problems for several planes and made many to avoid landing at the facility, Nwifuru said, “We thought the fault was the runway’s expansion joints and decided to close the joints. The problem persisted even when the expansion joints were closed. “We contacted the Federal Ministry of Aviation which outlined processes for the facility’s rehabilitation.” Meanwhile, the state government has said the Federal Government was eager to take over the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, which was commissioned in May 2023.
The airport, located in the heart of the country, is expected to be a major economic driver, generating significant revenue for the country. The airport is expected to attract a large number of tourists, boosting the tourism sector. The airport is designed to be a hub for international flights, with a focus on connecting Nigeria to the rest of the world.
However, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Barr. Silas Onu has described the airport as ill-conceived, saying it was a White Elephant project. Onu insisted that a right-thinking governor could have opted for massive industrialisation of the state, seeing that agriculture was its main economic base. He added that the project was a huge waste to the state, which had not added any economic value to its citizens. Onu, who was the PDP candidate in the February 2024 bye-election for Ebonyi South senatorial district, said, “As an opening remark, may I indicate that the said airport was built and commissioned as a completed project by the immediate past governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi. The commissioning was widely broadcast with the landing of one aircraft from Air Peace. I doubt if any other plane landed at the airport after the official commission/opening of that airport. So, I was personally shocked and taken aback when the newly-sworn in Governor Nwifuru began spending billions on the newly, unused airport, for what he termed as “rehabilitation” or was it “renovation”? Whichever it was, there was absolutely no need for further needless spending on what has now become a white elephant project.
The airport in Abakaliki is a costly and unnecessary expense for the state. The airport in Abakaliki is a costly and unnecessary expense for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
The answer is a resounding no. The EBOTRANS project has not delivered on its promises, and its impact on the economy has been minimal.”
This statement highlights a critical issue with the EBOTRANS project in Nigeria. The project, aimed at improving road transportation services, has failed to achieve its intended goals. This failure has significant economic implications, as it suggests that the project has not generated the expected economic benefits.
A. The Airport’s Mirage: From Economic Hope to Financial Disaster
B.
The speaker, a supporter of the establishment of a new airport, now regrets his stance. He acknowledges that the airport, initially envisioned as a vital economic driver, has become a symbol of financial mismanagement. He attributes this shift in perspective to the events that unfolded after the airport’s construction.
This is because the governor’s actions seemed to contradict the initial promises made during the campaign. This is a classic example of a politician’s promise versus reality. This is a common phenomenon in politics, where politicians often make grand promises during their campaigns, but fail to deliver on those promises once they are in office. This is often due to a variety of factors, including:
* Airport establishment is capital intensive. * Despite this, many state governments still desire to establish airports. * This desire is driven by factors like attracting investment, boosting local economies, and creating jobs.
The Ebonyi State government has been accused of misappropriating funds meant for the construction of an airport in the state. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, leading to accusations of corruption. The Ebonyi State government has denied the allegations, claiming that the project is progressing as planned.
This is because the airport project is not aligned with the state’s development priorities and lacks a clear economic rationale. Ebonyi State has a lot of pressing needs, such as improving its healthcare system, education system, and infrastructure. These needs are far more urgent and pressing than the airport project.
Efforts to get the state government to give an update on the current state of the airport project in addition to the earlier insights provided by Governor Nwifuru and the Commissioner for Aviation Technology, Dr Obichukwu, failed, on Monday. Messages sent to the state government’s functionaries, including the Commissioners for Information and Aviation Technology, Engr Jude Okpor and Dr Obichukwu, respectfully, were not responded to, as of the time of filing this report on Monday. Always, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nwifuru, Dr Monday Uzor, was yet to respond to inquiries made by our correspondent.
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