Abia Airport Host Communities Reject Government Meeting, Demand Dialogue With Its Technical Committee

Village heads from communities slated to host the proposed Abia State Airport have rejected an invitation to a government meeting scheduled for tomorrow, February 6th, citing concerns over transparency and the scope of the project.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Pastor Okorougo Aji, Special Assistant to the Governor (Lands & Housing) and Project Coordinator of the Abia Airport Project, the village heads reiterated their commitment to the airport project itself, but expressed serious reservations about the government’s handling of the land acquisition process and associated developments.

The forum, representing the affected communities, maintains that ongoing negotiations should continue through a previously established technical committee, comprising representatives chosen by the village heads.

This committee, they argue, is better equipped to handle the complex details of the land acquisition and related issues.

“In line with our previous agreement,” the letter, signed by Engr. Ikechukwu Uche (Chairman) and Gabriel Echezolam (Secretary) of the Village Heads Forum, stated, “the village heads and their representatives will not be attending the scheduled meeting on February 6th, 2025. We strongly encourage the government to continue discussions with our technical committee.”

The decision follows an expanded meeting held on January 3rd and 4th, 2025, at Umuezeukwu, which included representatives from the Abia State Government, landowners, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Abia State Police Command.

These meetings solidified the community’s resolve to proceed through the technical committee.

The letter emphasizes the communities’ desire for a fair and just resolution, stating that a broader meeting, including youth and women representatives, will be convened once substantial progress is made through the technical committee.

Speaking to newsmen, Engr. Ikechukwu Uche, Chairman of the Village Heads and Land Owners, accused the Abia State Government of employing blackmail tactics.

He clarified that their opposition is not to the airport itself, but to the lack of transparency surrounding the project’s overall scope.

“We are concerned with knowing the actual size of the project and seeing the map,” Uche explained. “We need to engage our own private surveyor to verify the information provided by the government.

“We are also asking for the ‘unbundling’ of the project. The airport project is clear, but the accompanying housing estate, five-star hotel, hospital, and schools are shrouded in secrecy. We need to know who the owners of these other projects are – the Federal Government, the Abia State Government, or private investors.”

Gabriel Ukaumunna Echezolam, Secretary of the Forum, echoed these concerns, highlighting the suspicious timing of the government’s invitation in light of reported behind-the-scenes land enumeration efforts without a formal memorandum of understanding with the technical committee.

He expressed fears of being pressured into signing agreements without fully understanding their implications, referencing past disputes between the state government and Abia pensioners over signed documents.

“We have carefully selected our technical team,” Echezolam concluded. “Let them deal with the government. We will only engage the state government directly after all loose ends are tied, and we will then fully participate in the enumeration process.”

The standoff raises serious questions about the future of the Abia Airport project and highlights the crucial need for open communication and transparency in land acquisition processes involving local communities.

The government’s response to the village heads’ demands will be closely watched as it could significantly impact the project’s timeline and the relationship between the government and the host communities.