Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi states has defended the allocation of N13.7 billion for the repair of Senator Chuba Okadigbo Airport in Onueke, despite its recent inauguration.
The Times reported that the Governor presented this defense during a media conference that was part of celebrations for Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day and the state’s 27th anniversary.
Given the large financial investment in the airport’s construction, Governor Nwifuru emphasized the necessity for it to run at its best efficiency.
“Every concerned Ebonyi citizen should ask the question regarding the substantial cost of rehabilitating the airport,” he said.
The Governor also reiterated his conviction that the airport’s creators had good intentions by relating a conversation he had on the subject with another governor. But he conceded that the airport’s runway had a serious problem, saying, “A colleague governor recently asked me the same subject and I maintained that the airport’s founders had relevant goals.
However, the runway wasn’t designed properly because landing on it wasn’t easy.
“Many planes have experienced difficulties landing at the site due to the poor runway condition.
“We believed the problem might have been the runway’s expansion joints and took measures to address it by closing these joints, but the issue continued,” Governor Nwifuru said.
The Federal Ministry of Aviation submitted a thorough plan for the airport’s rehabilitation when the state administration requested its advice to address this issue.
The governor explained that the project’s high cost was due to its inherent complexity and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to hiring the best contractors to guarantee its successful completion.
Under the direction of former governor Dave Umahi, the N36 billion Onueke Airport was officially opened in April 2023.
The project was supported by the federal government, according to the then-Gov., who stated that former President Buhari had approved N10 billion for the project’s initial launch.
