Nwoba Chika Nwoba shares his concerns about the Ebonyi Airport project, highlighting issues of feasibility, financial mismanagement, and the missed opportunity for economic development.
Nwoba Chika Nwoba wrote on his Facebook page, raising concerns about the Ebonyi Airport project. He mentioned that no airline wanted to take charge of the airport because there wasn’t enough business potential, and they didn’t expect many customers. Because of this, the Ebonyi Government decided to start its own airline, buying four airplanes to see if the airport could operate. “They’ll never tell you this,” Nwoba pointed out, criticizing the lack of transparency.
Nwoba stressed the importance of dealing with priorities and solving problems by first admitting there is a problem. He questioned how the airport could cost over N67 billion to build, suggesting that if the money had been properly managed, it could have built three strong airports. Now, with no airline willing to partner, Nwoba doubts that the state government can run the airport effectively. He compared the situation to Akwa Ibom, a state with more resources and a larger population, which is still struggling to manage its own airport. “How much more difficult will it be for Ebonyi, with so many basic problems still unsolved?” he asked.
At first, Nwoba supported the airport project because it was supposed to be a cargo airport, and there were promises that the federal government would take over and manage it. But when he saw that the project was becoming a way to misuse funds, he lost interest. He suspected that the former governor was making a deal that benefited himself more than the state, working with the then minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika. Now, his suspicions have been proven right. The federal government is not involved, and the Ebonyi government is paying for ongoing work with an additional N17 billion for refurbishment. “You’re refurbishing a facility that hasn’t even been used once?” Nwoba asked, pointing out how strange this is.
Nwoba expressed his disappointment that the billions of naira spent will likely result in nothing but an unused airport. “I’m not being negative or hoping it fails,” he wrote, “but I don’t need glasses to see that it’s heading towards becoming a relic—an abandoned airport site.” He urged people to think about what could have been achieved if this money had been invested in industries that could develop human skills and boost the economy, helping to lift Ebonyi State out of poverty.
Nwoba Chika Nwoba’s post highlights the poor decisions and missed opportunities surrounding the Ebonyi Airport project, calling for a change in priorities to better the state.
He wrote below :👇
No airline accepted to take charge of the cash cow for the initiators in the name of Ebonyi Airport. Their reason is that business feasibility here is next to nothing as prospect for patronage is zero. That’s why Ebonyi Government decided to float an airline of its own with acquisition of four aeroplanes to see if the airport will be able to run. They’ll never tell you this.
Facing priorities matters. How do we solve a problem without first accepting the fact that there’s a problem, identifying the problem itself and then seek solution? The amount of money that the airport is said to have gulped can build three separate powerful airports should accountability be observed. How can the airport gulp over N67 billion to construct? Now, no airline wants to bank with it. I’m very sure that the state government can’t run it optimally. Akwa-ibom irrespective of its economic strength and population isn’t finding it easy running its own, how much more Ebonyi that has numerous basic challenges yet to be tackled?
I supported the airport project due to the statement that it was going to be a cargo kind of an airport, and the fact that federal government was going to inherit and manage it. When I realized that the project was purely a conduit channel for financial siphonage, and that the former governor was merely striking a self-benefiting deal with the then minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, I started developing disinterest for it. And today, it has happened that my suspicion has come to fruition. There’s no shadow of federal government’s ownership of the airport. Ebonyi government is the one funding the ongoing works there with up to N17 billion fresh refurbishment bill. You’re refurbishing a facility that hasn’t been used for once? A supposed federal airport is now being managed by commissioner for aviation in Ebonyi. Where else does this happen?
I’m pained that these billions of naira will produce nothing but a relic of aviation infrastructure. I’m not being pessimistic or wishing it dearth, but I don’t need to wear a lens to see that it’s gravitating towards a relic of aviation infrastructure – a once airport site. Imagine what we would have achieved if this sum in money was invested in industrialization which would give rise to human capital development and economic growth that could help route out the abject poverty that is our lot today as a state.
NCN.
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