3 MOST EXCITING DAY IN THE HISTORY OF EBONYI STATE

1. The Day Ebonyi State was created- 1st October, 1996
2. The day the administration of the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi was inaugurated- 29th May 2015
   3.The day one of the landmark projects of Governor Umahi- Ebonyi International Airport(best in Nigeria) was inaugurated- 27th April, 2023

COMMENTARY ON THE MAKING OF A NEW EBONYI STATE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

History was made in Ebonyi State on 29th May, 2015 as it was the day that heralded the coming on board of a vision packed leader who accomplished a visionary political trajectory as the 3rd Civilian Deputy Governor and 3rd Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State. The Governor upon inauguration rolled out landmark projects which he believed would transform the hitherto neglected and underdeveloped State. The Governor developed a 5-fold Covenant that would guide the performance of his social contract with the people. From day one, he set out his mission which is to enhance the welfare of his people and empower them to be self-reliant through the compassionate delivery of transparent and God fearing Governance that is based on integrity and dignity. His blueprint on governance was drawn to address the teething problems that militate against economic growth, self-reliance and industrialization in the State

Ebonyi today has flagship projects that are setting the state on the part of economic prosperity. With the concrete based network of road that has made Ebonyi a global village, the over 14 twin flyovers that connect the major junctions and boarders of the State with dualizations, the State Shopping Mall that is described as the microcosm of Dubai Mall, the new David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences established to provide centres of excellence for the treatment of liver problems, Cancer, heart diseases, heart transplant and production of dyalizers and many more achievements in Education, Health, Human Capital Development, Agriculture and other sectors of governance in Ebonyi State, Ebonyi State under Governor Umahi is having chances of being the economic hub of South East in the near future.

27th May 2023 will mark another historic moment in the lives of Ebonyi people as their dream of having one of the best International Airports in Nigeria is being actualized. Ebonyi State International Airport project was initiated and started by the administration of Governor Umahi. Initially, many didn’t believe it was possible to be actualized given the limited resources of the State and many other projects being handled by the Umahi administration. To worsen the situation, some members of the host communities fought against the siting of the airport project in their place believing that it was too capital intensive and as such was beyond the financial capacity of the State.
Through the ingenuity of the Governor who is a passionate engineer, the design and construction works were done by the indigenous Engineers. All skilled, Semi-Skilled and non-skilled labourers were sourced from the State. Different sections of the airport including Terminal Building, Apron Unit (Local and International Section), Fire Bay, Tower Control Unit (which has ten Floors), Police Building, Immigration Building, Presidential Lodge, Car Park, Gate House and Generator House, with the entire project sitting on about 5.3 km2 land with 3.16Km runway were constructed by the indigenous Engineers.

A section of the International Airport, the Presidential Lounge named after President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, was commissioned in April, 2022 by Mr. President himself. At that time, most of the sections had not been completed but today the Airport with all necessary facilities have been completed .

Today, the State International Airport is being counted as one of the leading Airports in terms of beauty, formidable state -of- the- art facilities, quality and size of the tarmac and runway. The investment prospects and vistas of opportunities this Airport business will bring in Ebonyi State cannot be over emphasized. With the smooth network of road leading to the five sister states including Abia, Benue, Cross River, Enugu and Imo States, Ebonyi International Airport is set to provide alternative air travel choice that can compete with the exploits of continental airports. With the Security architecture, the social and physical environment in Ebonyi State, the air users across the nation will make Ebonyi International Airport their preferred route. Ebonyi is the only place in South East that doesn’t heed to the sit-at-home orders of the non-state-actors and this is an attractive business atmosphere for investors and travelers all over the world.

The Airport named after President Muhammadu Buhari has been completed and inauguration of flight operations and flight test carried out by Air peace coming from Abuja and Lagos Airports. It is a beauty to behold, having the State of the- art- facilities and strategically located near Abakaliki Capital City and accessed through Abakaliki-Afikpo Road.

From Abakaliki Capital City to the Airport is just a distance to the airport. Going to the airport, you will be greeted with the aesthetics of President Muhammadu Buhari Light Tunnel, the Shopping Mall, State Ecumenical Centre, Bishop Nnachi Okoro Flyover crossing a-four- lane highway leading to Engr. Fidelis Kings Nweze Twin Flyover that connects directly a dualized concrete road that leads to the International Airport. The gate of the State airport is the first facility that mirrors the elegance of the airport project.

The Airport which has a perimeter fence done in concrete, covering the entire area of the airport, the terminal building which is fully completed and ready for commissioning, the fire Station, the Presidential Lounge, the Control tower that has ten floors among others are facilities with special architecture that stands the airport out as one of the best in Nigeria.

So far, the airport has given direct employment to over 300 people in different departments that are already working including Aviation Security, Aerodrome rescue firefighting System, Safety Management, Human Resources and Administration, Engineering Services, Environmental Department, Airport Operations, Commerce and Account departments.

With the training and retraining of staff of the airport, the State Airport is going to be one of the best in landside operations, airside operations, billing and invoicing and information management.

As the people of Ebonyi State welcome the Federal Ministry of Aviation and all regulatory Agencies coming to perform the flight test and inauguration of flight operations at the State International Airport, they convey their best wishes to the Governor of Ebnyi State His Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi for being the vision bearer and great leader who has made all things new in Ebonyi State

Congratulations to the people of Ebonyi State

Written by Hon. Chief Barr Orji Uchenna Orji
(Commissioner for Information and State Orentation, Ebonyi State)