According to an exclusive report by Sahara Reporters, the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Abakaliki, commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 26, 2023, remains unused 390 days after its inauguration, lying in a state of neglect.
The airport had a soft launch on April 26, 2023, overseen by former Governor David Umahi, during which two inaugural Air Peace flights landed on its runway.
The official inauguration was a grand event, attended by high-ranking officials from federal and state governments, as well as dignitaries from across Nigeria. Despite the celebratory atmosphere and significant investment, the airport has yet to become operational.
During the inauguration, former Governor Umahi, now the Minister of Works, promised that the airport would bring prosperity and boost Ebonyi State’s economy.
However, more than a year later, the airport has not generated any revenue for the state, which is in urgent need of funds for its development plans.
Shortly after the inauguration, reports emerged that the airport’s runway had developed defects, causing airlines to boycott the airport. Additionally, the airport, built at a cost of N36 billion, lacked a functional radar system. These issues led to the airport’s closure for renovations.
The new governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, stated that the Federal Ministry of Aviation recommended overlaying the concrete runway with asphalt to address the defects after the state’s efforts to fix the issues failed.
Despite the absence of commercial air traffic, apart from a single special flight by Governor Nwifuru, an additional N17.3 billion was invested in the airport, bringing the total expenditure to N53 billion without any return on investment.
Governor Nwifuru mentioned that a governor questioned him about the approval of N13.75 billion for the airport, despite it being deemed completed and handed over.
He acknowledged the significant investment and the defects in construction, explaining that the state could not afford to abandon the project.
According to Governor Nwifuru, the former administration invested N42 billion in the airport, one of the largest in the country. However, due to the runway’s defects, airlines refused to land there.
The state government engaged contractors like CCECC and Julius Berger to provide quotations for the necessary repairs. The Federal Ministry of Aviation’s certification and asphalt overlay requirements increased the cost of remediation to N17.3 billion, which has now been completed.
Despite the significant expenditure, the airport remains idle, and the local population suffers from poor infrastructure and basic amenities. The National Bureau of Statistics ranks Ebonyi State among Nigeria’s top 10 poorest states, with a poverty rate of 79.76%.
The state’s debt burden is also substantial, with outstanding local currency debt at N76.5 billion and foreign debt at $58.57 million as of December 2022.
The close proximity of the Ebonyi airport to Enugu airport, just a 10-minute flight away, raises questions about the wisdom of the N53 billion investment in an airport that has yet to prove commercially viable.
Former Commissioner for Information, Chief Abia Onyike, has called for a probe into Umahi’s administration, alleging financial impropriety and inflated contracts. Onyike criticized the airport project, comparing its cost to the N6 billion spent on the functional Anambra airport, and demanded Umahi’s resignation as Minister of Works.
Umahi is accused of seeking to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating his administration.
Onyike claims Umahi’s administration was marked by corruption and mismanagement, neglecting essential services like education and healthcare while borrowing substantial sums for the airport.
Barrister Uche Achi-Okpaga, former spokesman for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, supports the current administration’s efforts to make the airport operational.
He argues that abandoning the project would waste the substantial investment and that the airport could bring significant benefits to the state once functional.
State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor, reassured that the airport is not abandoned and that the current administration is committed to ensuring the investment does not go to waste.
He explained that the main issue was the runway, which required resurfacing with asphalt. The conversion from concrete to asphalt took nearly a year, and the airport is now ready for commercial operations once the final touches are completed.
The additional N17.7 billion expenditure was attributed to economic factors like naira devaluation and the cost of imported materials. The state government aims to reopen the airport for commercial activities soon, hoping to eventually generate revenue and fulfill it sintended purpose.
