Report On Downgrading Of Anambra Airport Mischievous, False — Govt

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has said a report
that the Federal Government has declined to give the state a
licence to run an international airport is false.

The report said the Federal Government only gave the state the
patent to run a domestic airport.

But a statement on Monday by the Commissioner for Information
and Public Enlightenment, CC-Don Adinuba, described the story as
false and the handwork of detractors.

He said the airport remained an international airport and asked
members of the public to disregard the report, describing the
purveyors of the “false story” as “a faceless group of hired
propaganda guns”

The statement reads in part, “As the first commercial plane is
scheduled to land at Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport
on April 30, 2021, to test-run the facilities at the airport, a
faceless group of hired propaganda guns has crafted and posted on
the Internet a so-called report that the Federal Government of
Nigeria, through the Ministry of Aviation, has refused to give the
Anambra State Government a licence to operate an international
airport but has rather offered the state a licence to run a
domestic airport.

“The scammers attributed the purported decision to the Minister
of Aviation, Senator Sirika Hadi, a well-respected captain and
administrator.

“The news report is, of course, false, misleading and
mischievous. The report fails to state when the Minister announced
the alleged decision, how and to whom. In other words, it fails the
basic requirements of a news report. Yet, we are compelled to
refute the substandard report because of the anxiety it has created
in millions of Nigerians, particularly Anambra people across the
globe who cannot wait to make use of the airport.

“Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport remains an
international airport. It will be inaugurated at the appropriate
time this year. Its facilities are strong and built to global
standards. The facilities are big enough to accommodate the biggest
aircraft in the world.”

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has said a report
that the Federal Government has declined to give the state a
licence to run an international airport is false.

The report said the Federal Government only gave the state the
patent to run a domestic airport.

But a statement on Monday by the Commissioner for Information
and Public Enlightenment, CC-Don Adinuba, described the story as
false and the handwork of detractors.

He said the airport remained an international airport and asked
members of the public to disregard the report, describing the
purveyors of the “false story” as “a faceless group of hired
propaganda guns”

The statement reads in part, “As the first commercial plane is
scheduled to land at Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport
on April 30, 2021, to test-run the facilities at the airport, a
faceless group of hired propaganda guns has crafted and posted on
the Internet a so-called report that the Federal Government of
Nigeria, through the Ministry of Aviation, has refused to give the
Anambra State Government a licence to operate an international
airport but has rather offered the state a licence to run a
domestic airport.

“The scammers attributed the purported decision to the Minister
of Aviation, Senator Sirika Hadi, a well-respected captain and
administrator.

“The news report is, of course, false, misleading and
mischievous. The report fails to state when the Minister announced
the alleged decision, how and to whom. In other words, it fails the
basic requirements of a news report. Yet, we are compelled to
refute the substandard report because of the anxiety it has created
in millions of Nigerians, particularly Anambra people across the
globe who cannot wait to make use of the airport.

“Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport remains an
international airport. It will be inaugurated at the appropriate
time this year. Its facilities are strong and built to global
standards. The facilities are big enough to accommodate the biggest
aircraft in the world.”