Group says Anambra airport not ready for use

As controversies continue to trail the commissioning of the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri, a group under the auspices of Coalition for True Democracy (CTD) has described the process as ‘shambolic’.

In a statement on Sunday in Awka, Anambra State, the coordinator of the group, Mr Samuel Okolo, said Aviation business is not like any other transport business where things are hurriedly put together to score a political point.

“Aviation and airport operations are safety operations that are regulated (beyond Nigeria) by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), so NCAA (Nigeria Civil Aviation Organisation) itself is overseen and certified by ICAO”.

“Anambra people should genuinely be worried about aviation safety and must not be tainted by political colouration.

“Who said an airport project is not laudable? But the question is how genuine is the project and should the aviation process be treated with emotions or politics? Lives are involved,” he said.

Okolo said the airport is not ready, saying that what it has at the moment is a runway and a makeshift terminal, adding that: “They still have not concluded with NAMA on the training and deployment of Air Traffic Controllers”

“Even when the aviation regulatory authority, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), failed to approve the take-off of two commercial flights that were billed to land at the airport from Lagos and Abuja respectively for obvious reasons”, saying it was unfair for the state government to continue to give the impression that all is well.

Air peace recently put out an advert of ticketing detailing Abuja to Anambra from 29th-31st October at the cost of N27,500 and many Nigerians paid and booked online and 24 hours later, the management cancelled the ticketing without recourse for those who have successfully booked.

The statement described the commissioning of the airport as fraud against unsuspecting Nigerians and the people of Anambra state.