The Ebonyi government announced on Monday that flight operations at Chuba Okadigbo Airport Onueke are expected to commence in November. Ngozi Obichukwu, the State Commissioner for Aviation, made this statement during a briefing with Gov. Francis Nwifuru, which coincided with his inspection of the facility as part of the state’s 28th anniversary celebrations.
Obichukwu explained that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had inspected the airport’s runway, which had previously delayed the commencement of flight operations. She noted that the 3.1-kilometer runway, capable of accommodating five aircraft simultaneously, was asphalted by the current administration in the state.
“The airport had earlier commenced operations, but most aircraft could not cope with the runway due to the non-asphalting of the concrete basement used in its construction. We began asphalting the runway in October 2023 and completed it on July 8, 2024,” she stated.
According to Obichukwu, the NCAA’s inspection was successful, and approval for flight operations is anticipated by November. She commended Gov. Nwifuru for fulfilling his promise to rehabilitate the runway, which she described as one of the best in the country.
However, she expressed regret over the death of the engineer who oversaw the runway’s rehabilitation. Gov. Nwifuru praised the timely completion of the project and highlighted the significant improvements since his last visit, mentioning that billions of naira had been invested.
“This is one of the best airports around the world, and we pray that no life will be lost in the facility. I thank all those who contributed to the realization of this dream, as you have all written your names in gold,” he remarked. He also urged the commissioner to submit a proposal to name one of the airport’s plazas after the late lead engineer.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airport was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari during the administration of Sen. David Umahi, but flight operations were suspended due to flaws in the construction of its runway.