How Otti Convinced Tinubu To Support Abia International Airport Project – Keyamo

Festus Keyamo

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has shared how Governor Alex Otti of Abia State rejected a Federal Government plan to build an airstrip in the state. He recently had his say while speaking at the official unveiling of two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft acquired by United Nigeria Airlines in Lagos.

Stressing that the federal government had initially proposed an airstrip for Abia State and captured the project in the 2024 budget as part of efforts to expand aviation infrastructure across the country, Keyamo stated that Otti instead opted for a full-fledged international airport.

He added that the governor’s decision followed his recommendation to President Bola Tinubu that Abia State lacked both an airport and an airstrip.

His words, “When we came to power, I went to Mr President saying Abia does not have an airstrip or an airport in the whole of the South-East. So, he told me to put it in the budget. In the 2024 budget, we put the Abia airstrip as one of our first projects.

However, credit to Dr Alex Otti, who did not stop at that. He went straight to Mr President behind me and said, ‘Sir, bring the money for the airstrip, I have counterpart funding. I will now make it a full international airport.’ He said, ‘Don’t give me an airstrip, but bring the money. With counterpart funding, I will build a full-fledged international airport in Umauhia, Abia State. That project has taken off under his guidance. In fact, Abia has brought more money than the federal government.

They (Enugu State government) want to make it (Enugu Airport) a cargo hub for the whole of the South-East.

We are negotiating for the first flight from Guangzhou straight to Enugu in December. I am working with the governor of Enugu State. It will enable all traders, especially our brothers from the South-East who do business in China, to go twice every week, put all their goods into one cargo, and have it go straight from Guangzhou to Enugu. Then it can be delivered to Onitsha and Aba.”

WOW.