Abia Airport Project Met With Fierce Resistance From Landowners

Nsulu, Abia State – Tensions flared in Nsulu, Abia State, this past weekend as a government team conducting a perimeter survey for a proposed new state airport was met with forceful resistance from local landowners.

The incident, which saw a significant confrontation between government officials and protesting community members, has thrown the future of the ambitious airport project into serious doubt.

The survey team, headed by Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Chief of Staff to the Governor, was met with a wall of defiance from residents of eight communities affected by the planned airport construction.

Chanting protest songs and waving banners, the protestors blocked the team’s access to the survey area, effectively halting the assessment.

The core of the protest stems from a perceived lack of consultation and transparency from the Abia State government.

Protesters vehemently argued they were completely sidelined during the planning process, with no meaningful engagement or input sought before the project was announced.

This lack of consultation, they claim, is a betrayal of trust, particularly given the historical contributions of Nsulu communities to the state’s development.

Ukaumunna Echezolam, the village head of Umuezenta, articulated the community’s grievances with particular force.

He highlighted that the proposed airport would encroach upon vital ancestral lands, directly threatening the community’s primary source of livelihood: farming.

“Our forefathers’ graves lie here,” Echezolam stated, his voice carrying over the sounds of the protest. “This land is not just land; it’s our heritage, our sustenance. The government cannot simply take it without our consent.”

Echezolam also pointed to past sacrifices made by Nsulu communities, including the provision of land for the successful Nsulu Games Village and the Ntigha Inland Dry Port.

He argued that these gestures of goodwill have been met with disregard in the current situation.

“We have always supported the development of our state,” he emphasised, “but this project, as it stands, is unacceptable.”

The protesters’ demands are clear: they are calling for the complete abandonment of the large-scale airport project.

Instead, they are advocating for smaller, community-focused development initiatives that would benefit the local population without displacing them or compromising their traditional way of life.

The protesters suggested investments in improved agricultural infrastructure, better healthcare facilities, and enhanced educational opportunities as more suitable alternatives.

The incident underscores a growing rift between the Abia State government and the Nsulu communities.

While the government has yet to issue a formal statement responding to the protests, the weekend’s events suggest a significant obstacle to the airport project’s progression.

The escalating tensions raise questions about the government’s approach to community engagement and the long-term implications for development initiatives in the region.

Further dialogue and a demonstrable commitment to addressing community concerns will be crucial to resolving the impasse and determining the future of the proposed Abia airport in Nsulu.