Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has appealed to the Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to approve the N10 billion he requested from President Muhammadu Buhari to purchase airport equipment for the state.

“I plead with you for your kind help in recommending to Mr President to assist us when Mr President refers our letter to you,” Mr Umahi said in a letter sent to the aviation minister on September 7.

Mr Umahi had sought financial assistance from Mr Buhari to complete the international airport at Onueke, Ezza South local government area.

In the letter, the governor explained that Ebonyi was building one of the largest airports in Nigeria, requiring funds to acquire equipment.

“We intend to complete this project by May 2022, but we do not have money to buy the airport equipment hence our appeal to Mr President for Ten Billion Naira (N10.000,000,000.00) to purchase the equipment,” Mr Umahi said.

He also assured that the airport would be handed over to the federal government for supervision after completion, just as he appealed to Mr Sirika to consider the state’s request.

“This your latest anticipated assistance will help to complete the airport and will allow Mr President and you to commission the project to the credit of Mr President’s administration,” Mr Umahi added.

The minister, however, did not respond to Peoples Gazette’s request seeking to know whether he found the governor’s request tenable and would process it.