By Oginyi Ruth
The Federal Government has approved the request for the construction of a new International Airport in Ebonyi State.
Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, conveyed the approval in a letter addressed to Governor David Umahi after his visit to the Aviation Ministry on Thursday August 5th, 2019.
About five communities in Ezza South and North Council Areas of the state would been affected by the construction of the airport.
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In a letter signed by the Director Safety and Technical Policy, Capt T A Alkali of the Ministry, the Minister said the approval followed the visit of a Technical team from the ministry and its agencies to the state on inspection of the proposed site for the airport.
The letter read, “I am directed to convey approval oftye Honourable Minister of Aviation for the construction of a state owned/financed International Airport on the inspected site”, he wrote.
He noted that the approval is subject to the State Government’s fulfillment of certain requirements for an airport development.
He listed the requirements as: “strict compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority requirements; compliance with all relevant environmental regulations, adherence to the provisions of the subsisting Civil Aviation Act 2006, Nigeria Civil Aviation Policy 2013 and other regulations that may evolve with time; and payment of statutory fees.
“Issuance of Security Clearance from the Department of State Services (DSS); removal of all obstructions on the site and involvement of the Ministry and its relevant agencies at every stage of the development of the airport to ensure compliance with Standards and Recommend Practices (SARPs).”
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The airport, when completed, will play host to two out of the top three market hubs in the country located in Aba, Abia State and Onitsha Anambra state.
The new airport is expected to help in opening up the zone as well as neighbouring Cross River and States in the South-South and North-Central zones.
It will be sighted in a boundary between Ezza south and Ezza north.
