By Darlington Onedibe
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State turned down a Federal Government plan to construct an airstrip in the state, demanding a full-fledged international airport instead.
​Speaking on the development, Keyamo explained that while the federal government had initially proposed a smaller airstrip to boost immediate connectivity, Governor Otti firmly rejected the idea, citing the long-term economic and commercial trajectory of Abia State.
​”When we approached the Governor with the plan for an airstrip, he made it clear that Abia’s commercial capacity, particularly with the economic hub of Aba, demands nothing less than a standard international airport,” Keyamo stated.
The Federal Government intended to build a functional airstrip to integrate Abia State into the national aviation network. Governor Otti argued that an airstrip would quickly become obsolete given the massive trade, investment, and travel volumes generated by the state’s commercial sectors.
Following the Governor’s push, the Ministry of Aviation has indicated its willingness to partner with and support the state government in realizing the more ambitious international airport project.
​The proposed international airport is expected to be strategically positioned to serve the industrial needs of Aba and the wider Southeast region, facilitating direct cargo and passenger flights to boost regional economy.
