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APGA Accuses NSA Of Stopping Anambra Airport Commissioning

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has been accused of stopping the approval for the commissioning of the new Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport.

The airport, located in Umueri, in Anambra State was built by Governor Willie Obiano.

Chido Obidiegwu who is the Communicator and also a Chieftain of APGA in Anambra South Senatorial District made the disclosure on Channels TV.

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Obidiegwu stated that the scheduled October 30, 2021 commissioning of the airport may no longer hold.

The State government had been making efforts for the airport to begin commercial flights in November this year.

Obiano had ought the approval of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to open the state’s cargo and passengers Airport for operations on October 30.

Obidiegwu claimed that the NSA has directed the NCAA, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to suspend the planned opening of the airport for commercial operations, citing security reasons.

He said, “We have come to a point where (Obiano) is going to finish strong with this airport . An airport that over N3bn has been expended on, is about to be commissioned.

“This airport has the approval of the NCAA from the design, to construction to a time when the test run was done by Air Peace and about three other aircrafts.

“Now we are about to commission the airport and we are hearing that based on security reasons, that the airport will not be commissioned.

“We have it that the National Security Adviser has advised the NCAA that this event should not be held based on security reasons. I can assure you that we know what is about to happen.”

He revealed that two Air Peace flights have been booked ahead of the commissioning. The routes are Lagos to Anambra and Abuja to Anambra.

But Victor Ogene, who is the APC Media Adviser in Anambra State, debunked the claim.

Ogene who also spoke on the program insisted that the airport was done in a hurry.

He said, “Aviation is a technical aspect which no one should play politics with. You must get everything right. In April it was 60 per cent rate but they rushed to bring in a flight. And till today I can tell you that the airport has not been cleaned. Let them show us if they have certification. Aviation is on the exclusive legislative list; it is a federal matter.”

The Director-General of the NCAA, Musa Nuhu, had rated the airport as one of the best airports in Nigeria.

Nuhu had said during a tour of the airport in March that, “I am amazed, almost speechless at the level of work, and the level of compliance with our regulatory requirements and also with international standards and recommended practices.

“We have gone round the airport. We have a runway of 3.7 kilometers with a runway safety area on both ends of the airport of about 1000 meters.

“There’s no airport in Nigeria that has a racer area of 1,000 meters at both ends of the runway.”

anambra airportncaawillie obiano
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