A fomer lawmaker, Sam Onuigbo, has hailed the federal government’s decision to partner with Abia to construct Abia Airport, saying it’s indicative of President Bola Tinubu’s intension to boost South-East economic development.

Mr Onuigbo, in a statement to journalists on Wednesday in Umuahia, said Mr Tinubu was focused on transforming the region into an economic hub.

Mr Onuigbo is also a member representing the South-East in the Governing Board of North East Development Commission.

The federal government had on Tuesday performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Abia Airport at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

Mr Onuigbo said with the ambitious Lagos to Calabar coastal highway project, the construction of an airport in Abia would speed up the opening up of hinterlands into huge economic centres for commerce and industry.

Mr Onuigbo, also chairman of the Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions Committee, said the South-East had never received the sort of impetus from the federal government as Mr Tinubu was doing.

He said the choice of Nsulu for the airport project, situated between Isiala Ngwa and Umuahia, was a clear demonstration of strategic thinking.

He stated, “This is about the first time in recent times that the federal government should be talking about developing a new airport. It is obvious that the President Tinubu administration understands the economic potential of the South-East.

“As Governor Alex Otti rightly pointed out, the funds needed for the immediate takeoff of the airport are well captured in this year’s budget. Most importantly, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, deserves positive mention for promoting this synergy between the presidency and Abia State Government through legislative inputs.”

Mr Onuigbo, the sponsor of Nigeria’s landmark Climate Change Act, 2021, observed that the synergy between the federal government and the Abia government would deliver the airport as a win-win project for the people of the South-East.

He said that Mr Tinubu demonstrated his commitment to repositioning the South-East with the establishment of the South East Development Commission and approval of the construction of an international airport in Abia.

‘I am elated that the governor saw reason to collaborate with the federal government to upscale the project from an airstrip originally proposed to a full-fledged airport. Even without sharing the financial cost of constructing the airport, Abia stands to gain immensely from the multiplier effect of the airport.  The expected impetus that the airport will give to made-in-Aba products will deliver commensurate returns on investment,” Mr Onuigbo said.

The two-term member of the House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Constituency (2015-2023) also commended the state government for undertaking to construct the runway of the new airport. 

(NAN)