Buhari meets South East leaders, okays N10 billion upgrade of Enugu Airport

* Governors urges FG to declare state of emergency on roads,
erosion

Following the complaints of southeast governors and Igbo
leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N10 billion for
the take-off of the expansion and rehabilitation work in Akanu
Ibiam International Airport.

He said he has been assured by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi
Sirika, that the project would be expeditiously executed.

“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,” the President
said.

“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,” Buhari stated
after a closed-door meeting in the State House, Abuja on Thursday,
October 17.

The governors and Igbo leaders enjoined the Federal Government
to declare a state of emergency on roads and erosion in the South
East.

Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting,
Chairman of the southeast Governors’ Forum and governor of Ebonyi
State Chief David Umahi, noted that there is a disconnect between
the region and infrastructure, citing the deplorable state of roads
in the zone as an illustration.

He added that the delegation drew the attention of the President
to the deplorable state of southeast roads as well as the plight of
the people of the region, which he said had been worsened by the
closing of Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

Umahi said the situation needed immediate intervention in view
of the industrious nature of the people of the region, whom he said
had to move from one place to the other as traders and business
people.

The governor said the President noted the complaints of the
delegation and had promised to act on them.

The Aviation Minister, he said, told the meeting that the
impediment against the take-off of the expansion work on Enugu
Airport had been addressed and that the project would commence
without any further delay.

According to Governor Umahi, “what Kaduna is to the North is
what Enugu is to the South East,” adding that rail projects in the
region would soon take-off.

“The good takeaway from the meeting is that we are happy because
Enugu Airport will be alive again. We are happy with the
hardworking Aviation Minister,” Umahi said.

The Ebonyi Governor said the attention of the President was also
drawn to the state of Sam Mbakwe Airport in Enugu, stating that
there is a need to expand its runway and carry out extensive work
on the tarmac.

Attendance at the meeting comprised serving governors, former
governors, ministers from the region, federal lawmakers and leaders
of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Other governors present at the meeting were Okezie Ikpeazu
(Abia), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and David
Umahi (Ebonyi).

The Governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, was represented by his
deputy.

Also present were the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
Chief John Nwodo, former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Senator Sam Egwu, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, former Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi; former
governors of Imo State, Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, former
Enugu State governor, Sulivan Chime, serving ministers, among
others.

Also on Thursday, South-South governors and leaders of nine
states (Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Bayelsa, Abia,
Imo and Ondo) that comprise the Niger Delta met with the President
at the State House.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chairman of South-South
Governors’ Forum, Mr Seriake Dickson, did not categorically
disclose the purpose of the meeting, but stated that they were in
the State House to hold talks with the President on issues of
concern to the Niger Delta.

The Governor, who said the meeting was propelled by recent
events in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), added that
they briefed the President on challenges and issues brewing at the
NDDC, with the President promising to look into situation.

Asked to state specifically the challenges at the NDDC as well
as the issues of concern in the Niger Delta region, Governor
Dickson declined further comment, simply saying that the visit had
to do with the stability and development of the Niger Delta, to
which he said the President was in full grasp of the situation.

“Our concern has to do with the stability and development of the
Niger Delta. We had a robust discussion with Mr President, who
fully understands the challenges that come with development, and he
promised to look into the challenges which he’s aware of and we all
agreed to work together,” he said.

Present at the meeting were Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta),
Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Dickson (Bayelsa); deputy governor of Edo
State, Philip Shaibu, Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio,
Minister of State for Niger Delta, Tayo Alasoadura, among
others.