The staggering cost differentials between two states’ International Cargo Airports in the South East; Anambra and Ebonyi States have started generating mixed reactions.
Whereas it has been proved that the total construction of Anambra Airport at Umuleri gulped an initial N6bn under former Governor Willie Obiano and is in need of additional N4bn under current Governor Chukwuma Soludo to be fully operational, Ebonyi State Governor told the whole world that it his N36bn to deliver the Onueke Airport.
Recall that in 2021, the Anambra State government official stated that the cost of the state owned airport at Umueri was N6 billion ($16 million then) and not $2.2 billion as earlier reported.21 Oct 2022
Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri, was built in a record time of 15 months by the Willie Obiano-led AnambraState Government. The government said it did not borrow a kobo nor did it seek any form of financial aid to build the airport.
But in the case of Ebonyi State, the governor, Engr. Dave Umahi said members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly forfeited their three-year constituency project funds for the completion of the state’s new international airport.
Mr Umahi made the disclosure during the test-run of flight operations at the airport christened Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, at Onueke on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
The governor stated that the assembly led by its Speaker, Francis Nwifuru, made tremendous sacrifices for the actualisation of the airport, which he said cost N36 billion
