Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Gov Willie Obiano the governor of Anambra state has confirmed according to the media outlet, that the proposed Anambra Cargo Airport in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government will soon be available and commissioned for usage. He went further to specify that all things being equal, it would be launched precisely by April 2021.
The hearty and impressed governor, disclosed on Saturday 27th March 2021, during a joint inspection of the ongoing project with members of the House of Assembly.
According to the number one citizen of Anambra state, he remarked and insisted that his government is keen and confident in achieving the milestone of bringing the airport project to reality. In his opinion, the enormous benefits and economic importance of this particular project are too numerous to ignore, and that it would enhance great development not just for Anambra state, but all the surrounding states within the southeast zone and the country at large.
Most importantly, Gov Willie Obiano communicated his satisfaction and commended the efficiency of the committee and workers handling the project, lauding them for their doggedness in speeding up the work and doing it with good quality as well since its commencement back in January 2020.
Obiano convinced the residents of the state as well as the general public that by the time we get to the end of April 2021, air operations and activities would have commenced fully.
Furthermore, he characterized the uniqueness of the airport as one with the lengthiest runway in the whole of the federation and also possessing a satellite landing procedure to enable proper and safe landing of an airplane at any time of the day irrespective of all weather conditions. According to his words;
“One other important thing is that this is the only airport in Nigeria that has a satellite landing system, you can confirm that from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
“We did that deliberately because this is going to be one of the busiest in Africa because of the orientation of our people who are business people and travellers, “he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on this welcomed development, and on the technological elements of the undertaking, Mr. Ifejiofor revealed that the airport has dual-core runways with an efficient 100% erosion supervision which would stave off flooding during bad weather conditions.
Ifejofor added that from his observation and inspections, the airport was a solid high-tech project with good local content, affirming that it was being executed by the qualified corporation under the supervision of some of the best consultants in the aviation sector.
This runway has 06, 024, it has a length of 3.7klm, the width is 60 meters, 45 meters carriageway and 15 meters shoulders and the category is 4F, meaning it can take any Airbus,
“The orientation is that you can land on two sides, you can land on 06 or 024, it has category two light and satellite landing system, one-kilometre racer to take care of overrun.
“We have four grids on either side or a diversion channel to Oyi River,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said his remarks that the airport project was attainable and could seriously contend favorably with the popularly known and respected Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. He added an encouraging note of support stating that the National Assembly joint committee would return and deliberate on how the Federal Government could render their assistance in the realization of the project.
“Aviation is key to social-economic development for any political entity, we have heard about this airport and decided to come and see for ourselves.
“Most airports in Nigeria are not viable but they are essential, Lagos Airport contributes about 65 percent to our aviation but I can say that next to Lagos is where we are standing,” he said.
Senator Uche Ekwunife also commented on the incredible development stating that, despite political, knowledge, Obiano deserved acknowledgment for the great effort he and his administration had put in, in enduring that the airport project comes to reality and the foresight of the tremendous advantages that it will generate for the country in general.
