Abia gov’t, land owners setup joint technical committee over Abia Airport project
Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Abia government and the landowners of the proposed Abia Airport Project have agreed on certain grey areas and consequently inaugurated a joint technical committee to further make progress in the project.
The setting up of the joint technical committee and its inauguration by the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia state, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, followed a crucial meeting between Abia state government and community leaders, village and compound heads of land owners and technical team of the Nsulu Land Owners Forum of the proposed Abia Airport Nsulu held on Thursday evening at Government House Umuahia.
In a communique signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor Pastor Caleb Ajagba for the government and Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubike for the Nsulu Airport land owners and read by the leader of the Nsulu Airport land owners Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubike, the government and Nsulu people agreed to work together to agree in any area of concern that may arise in future in the course of execution of the project including but not limited to further reducing the land size.
The land owners team expressed concerns about the impact of the project on their community including displacement and loss of livelihood and appealed to the government to consider further reduction of the land size for the airport project.
The Nsulu Land owners equally appealed to the state government to allow the land owners to continue to farm on the acquired land until the government starts actual development on the land.
Both parties further agreed that Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would be drafted to guide all the parties for the duration of the project as it concerns what the host communities would benefit from the project upon completion while the government assured land owners of the transparency in its undertakings with them as well as promised to pay adequate and full compensation while involving the land owners in the project development process.
The Nsulu people in the communique commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving an Airstrip for Abia state and lauded Governor Alex Otti for upgrading the Airstrip to an Airport and for choosing Nsulu for the proposed Abia Airport project and pledged their support and cooperation for the actualization of the project.
According to the communique, the joint enlarged government/ Nsulu Airport land technical committee has Chief of staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba leading the government team while Rt Hon Uzor Azubike would lead the Nsulu Airport land owners.
In their speeches during the meeting , the Member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and member representing Isiala North State Constituency, Hon. Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu appreciated the government for engaging the real landowners and urged the government to pay attention to certain concerns raised by the people
Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Calab Ajagba stated that the meeting was significant as it involved the owners of the land identified after the government had reduced the size of the land from the original 1,800 to 1,325 hectares.
He said that all their agitations are manageable and described the government of Dr. Alex Otti as a fair and considerate government that listens to its people.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands and Housing and Project Coordinator, Abia Airport, Pastor Okorougo Aji, explained the journey of the project so far and disclosed the processes of the land acquisition.
Some landowners including Mrs Kate Nnanna, Nneoha Roseline Orji and Mr. Martin Ajuonu expressed joy that the government called to explain things to them, making them not to rely on rumours and urged the government to keep to its promise.
The meeting was attended by many dignitaries including Commissioners and land owners from all the host communities and villages of Nsulu.
