Obinna Uchendu
Abakaliki
The former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, State Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu and the representative of Ebonyi State in the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFAC, Mr. Henry Awuregu were among the dignitaries that successfully landed at the Chuba Okadigo Airport Onueke Ebonyi State to mark the commencement of commercial flight operation of the airport.
The aircraft-United Nigeria Airlines with registration 5N-8WV which was said to have departed Abuja Airport at about 9:30am successfully landed at the airport at exactly 10:30am on Friday with the passengers.
Speaking with journalists at the airport shortly after the aircraft landed, Professor Chigozie Ogbu described the commencement of the commercial flight operation as a dream come through adding that it is now clear to critics of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration that the airport wasn’t abandoned but has been put in use.
He noted that the commencement is an indication that Ebonyi State has arrived and is ready to compete favorably and possibly overtake other states in the country in air and land transport.
“This is the first flight and I am lucky to be part of the passengers that landed here. It was a very smooth landing. The runway is one of the best in the country and it was a good landing, as good as any place in the world and I flew from Abuja”, he said.
Another passenger, Mr. Emmanuel Nwafor described the landing of the aircraft on the airport as a dream come through.
“We’ve yearned and at a point we were even agitating because the volume of investment in this airport by the state government is something this airport should have been classified as the best in the country but we are seeing a lot of delay in commencement.
“But today, history is made, we have broken the jinx and I’m privileged to be part of the partaker of what God has done for Ebonyi State.
“The flight was very smooth. there was no turbulence the take off and the landing was very perfect”, he said.
Former Chairman, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam who was among passengers that were boarding for Abuja from the airport, said he was happy for the boarding and congratulated the state for the commencement of commercial flight operations in the airport.
“They have started very well and I am impressed with the facilities that I saw at the airport. They need to beef it up and make the flight more regularly”, Mbam stated.
Commissioner for Aviation and transport technology in the state, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for ensuring that flight operations commence in the airport.
She disclosed that another flight will take off on Monday next week from Lagos and land on the airport and also from the airport and land in Lagos.
“More are yet to come because on Monday we’re taking off from Lagos to here and we’re taking off from here to Lagos
“We just pray that people should not miss their flight because some of them really missed their flight today. They should please adhere strictly to it, we are not joking since we have started and there’s no going back. We are moving on” the Commissioner said.
