The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned the refurbished runaway at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, 18 months after former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the facility.
The project was completed under the Francis Nwifuru-led administration after no commercial activity at the airport for almost two years.
Commissioner for Aviation, Ngozi Obichukwu, however, said the airport will commence commercial flight operations next month.
She noted that all the challenges and obstacles that would have prevented the commercial flight takeoff have been swiftly handled by the Nwifuru administration.
On his part, Governor Nwifuru thanked President Bola Tinubu for the assistance to enable the state upgrade the runway.
His words: “We came in, on the 29th day of May, 2023, and as of then, we used concrete to build this runway. We didn’t know, as a state, that concrete is not accepted to be used to build runways.
“And when we came in, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority closed the airport, that this place is not a place that a plane can land, and we decided to start rebuilding the runway.
“Based on the support and the help of your husband, by the special grace of God, we did the runway and completed it to be one of the best runways in this country, Nigeria”.
Commissioning the runway, The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu commended the Governor for the magnificent airport.
She said: “I think your testimonials have really gone ahead of you, and I am really glad to be in Ebonyi state.
“I am really glad we came, and I see how beautiful Nigeria is. You know we don’t promote ourselves.
“What I saw today, I was even saying that we went to Burundi and I thought they did well. For a state in Nigeria, your runway was better than what I was even commending them for.
“So, we want to thank God for the good work you have been doing. It gladdens my heart when we see people that are young, that they have their hands on their work and they are doing great jobs, they have to be commended.”
