By Christian George
Air Peace was reportedly the first flight to land on the Ebonyi State N36 billion naira President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke on Thursday, April 27.
The first flights to the airport were two Embraer 145 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
In his speech during the inaugural flight operations, the Governor of the State, Dave Umahi, explained that the project has costed the government not less than N36 billion.
He called on the incoming government to make good use of the facilities.
He praised President Buhari for his support of the success of the project.
“When the first aircraft landed, I remembered Ebonyi and the toils of the founding fathers. It gladdens my heart that our dream has been actualised. I am grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved N10 billion loan for the international wing of the airport to be built. Some people tried to downgrade us but we fought on to make the project a reality. When we faced the challenge of lack of funds, President Buhari wrote to the Ministry of Finance and told them to make funds available for us. We are very grateful to him.”
He added that what is remaining for the total completion of the project is the taxiway and airfield lighting which have already been paid for.
The governor also appreciated the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who stood by the state and ensured that the project came to reality.
“We want to thank the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who promised us in his first tenure that he will ensure that the project is a reality. We also want to thank the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu for his support and also to the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefelie and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who ensured that the funds the President approved were made available to us.”
