PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday approved the release of N10billion intervention fund to upgrade the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
This was announced hours after a meeting with Southeast governors and leaders from the zone at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The President made the announcement in a post on his official Twitter handle @MBuhari.
He wrote: “I have approved the sum of N10 billion for an Intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
“I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards.
“Even as we have many items competing for our limited resources, we will continue to prioritize infrastructure investments in every part of the country.
“It is our responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is fixed; we will keep doing this.”
They met with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Southeast Governors Forum chairman/Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi said the region also sought a declaration of a state of emergency on roads and erosion, which he said is ravaging parts of the region.
Also on Thursday, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said it would resist any plan to introduce toll gates in the Southeast.
Umahi said Enugu airport’s closure grounded activities in the region and caused the people great hardship.
He said: “We are here to kindly urge Mr President to approve special fund for the Akanu Ibiam Airport just like what was done for Abuja Airport.”
Umahi also called for the rehabilitation of the Owerri Airport to boost socio-economic activities.
The deplorable Southeast roads, he said, have made the people’s lives miserable.
The governor praised the president’s efforts towards resolving the problems of Nigerians in South Africa and recommended the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, for special recognition.
Other governors who met with the President are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senator Sam Egwu.
Others are former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governors Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Okwesilieze Nwodo (Enugu), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Ikedi Ohakim, Imo.
The rest are Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Eric Acho Nwankwo, former Daily Times Managing Director, Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu, Ochiagha Regan Ufomba, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu and President-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed were also in attendance.
Former Imo State Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, praised the President for approving the N10 billion intervention fund.
He said it showed that Buhari is sensitive to the plight of Southeast travellers who use the airport.
Nwosu said: “I want to commend Mr President for yet another critical intervention in the Southeast by approving N10 billion for the maintenance work at the Enugu Airport.
“That single action further confirms that President Buhari is a man that has listening ears and is truly committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe and religion.
“Also, the components of the 2020 budget have further shown that the President is committed to growing the economy and providing infrastructure.
“The budget is pro-people and will certainly enhance the wellbeing of especially the ordinary Nigerians and drive development at both the state and Local Government levels.”
MASSOB leader Comrade Uchenna Madu faulted the Federal Government’s plan to introduce toll gates, vowing to resist and dismantle all proposed toll gates in “Biafraland”.
He said: “We can never fold our hands and watch outside strangers continue destroying Igboland.
“Though Biafra seems to be an occupied territory by the Nigeria state, MASSOB and other pro-Biafra groups will never allow Fulani invaders from Chad, Niger, Senegal, Sudan and Ethiopia to occupy Biafraland forcefully.”
Madu insisted that toll gates would not be allowed in the region, saying they cannot be mounted on roads that have been left in deplorable states for several years.
He said: “We have only five states in the Southeast with more than 56 toll gates than the entire 19 states of the Northern region with only 35 toll gates. Igbo states are higher with 21 toll gates. This is in confirmation that Igbo land is under siege and properly under exploitation.
“Southeast has more police checkpoints than any other region in Nigeria. Southeast has the greatest number of dilapidated federal road networks than any other region in Nigeria. Even the northern region that claims to have the highest population will pay the lowest of the federal government toll gate fees.”
The MASSOB leader said even if toll gates were to be erected, it should be done proportionately to reflect the mileages of Federal roads in the regions.
He criticised Southeast governors and other Igbo political leaders who he said turned themselves to second class politicians in Nigeria.
Madu said: “Meeting President Buhari to beg for infrastructural development of Ala Igbo has also turned them to become political beggars.”
He described the situation as unfortunate, adding that current Igbo leaders have belittled themselves. “MASSOB is worried that our governors who are supposed to be fearless have suddenly lost their Igbo bravery because of what they want to eat.
“Some of them willingly turned themselves to errand boys because they want to be Vice-President in 2023.
“Meeting President Buhari is completely meaningless and inconsequential. We strongly believe that President Buhari will never accede to their demands. They should go and develop their zone.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in August notified airlines, passengers and all other stakeholders that the runway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State would be closed for major repairs.
FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said the closure was aimed at resolving the existing safety and security concerns at the airport.
The general manager said the runway closure would take effect on August 24.
She noted that a date to reopen the runway would be communicated in due course.
A group, Igbo Renaissance Forum, questioned the performance of three aviation ministers from the region between 2010 and 2015.
It said they failed by not turning the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to a world-class facility during their tenures. (The Nation)
