Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
The Wife of Nigeria President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at exactly 3:18pm Friday landed at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport Onueke, Ezza South to Commission the rehabilitated runway of the Airport and participate at the grand finale of the Ebonyi Women’s Day celebration.
The Nigeria Airforce 5N-FGV plane carrying the First Lady on arrival was received by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shetima, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, his wife, Uzoamaka Nwifuru and the spouses of 23 Governors of the country who arrived the State yesterday.
The Nigeria Governor’s Wives Forum was led by the Wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq.
Senator Tinubu on arrival also took out time to dance with some women’s cultural troupe and residents of the state that trooped out in their numbers to receive the First lady.
Senator Tinubu commended Governor Nwifuru for completing the runway adding that she was impressed with the development going on in the state.
“I want to thank God for the good work you’ve been doing.
“Your wife is a big mobilizer, I have to say all this. I might not have an opportunity to, but it gladdens my heart, because when we see people that are young, you know, they have their hands on their work and they are doing great jobs. They have to be commended.
“I commission this runway to the glory of God and we pray for its benefit to mankind. We pray that this runway, planes will land here safely, they will take off safely, there will never be any accident on this runway, and this runway will bring businesses to Ebonyi State.
Earlier, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru said that on 29th May, 2023, the runway was constructed with concrete adding that it was later realized that concrete is not accepted to be used to build runway.
“When we came in, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority closed the airport, that this place is not a place that a plane can land, and we decided to start building the runway again.
Based on the support and the help of your husband, by the special grace of God, we did the runway and completed it to be one of the best runways in this country, Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the commissioning, the State Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu described the completion and commissioning of the runway as a milestone achieved.
She commended the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru for making the unrealizable to be realized. “Today we are grateful to God who made this day, and we are very thankful to governor, who doggedly ensured that this feat was achieved.
“When we started, it was as if it could not go, but the Lord strengthened Governor Nwifuru through prudence and transparency and economic wise. He was able to achieve this. Now that the Chuba Okadigbo’s airport runway has been commissioned, the flight operation will fully commence by December.
“We are kicking off by December. We are bringing in a commercial flights, and recall that our own aircraft is good to go. We are already ready for the Airborne Airways, which is already on. Very soon you come back here to launch it.
“There are no other challenges. The governor has tackled all security challenges we could have had. We had encroachments issues and other interferences from the neighbouring areas. It was a little challenged but through the massive employment, he has really given us security.
“Governor Nwifuru has equally engaged the army people to make sure that the place is protected.
