Abia Airport Project: Impunity As Government Proceeds With Construction Against Court Order

The Abia State Government, led by Governor Alex Otti, is facing growing criticism and legal challenges over the proposed Abia Airport project in Nsulu, Isialangwa North LGA.

Despite a standing order from an Abia State High Court ordering the government to halt all work on the project until a full hearing, reports have emerged confirming the start of clearing operations on the access road leading to the runway.

On December 20, 2024, the High Court in Okpuala Ngwa, presided over by Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, issued the stay order in response to a lawsuit filed by representatives of some Nsulu communities whose land is set to be acquired.

The lawsuit, HIN/62/2024, challenges the government’s plan to seize more than 1025 hectares of land without reaching a satisfactory agreement with the landowners.

During the initial hearing, C. Ogwo, representing the Abia State Ministry of Justice, agreed to halt all project-related activities until the motion on notice could be determined.

Justice Okezie explicitly ordered that “action on the subject matter in this suit shall be stayed until the motion on notice is determined.”

However, landowners are now alleging that the state government has sent bulldozers to the site and is moving forward with the project, allegedly fuelled by propaganda statements from the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba.

The development has sparked outrage in the affected communities. Nsulu leaders have expressed concern about what they see as a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and a dangerous precedent set by the state government.

They are urging Nigerians and people of goodwill to intervene and persuade Governor Otti to follow the court order and legal procedures.

“It is dangerous for a state government to openly show its displeasure with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction,” said one prominent Nsulu leader, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.

“Governor Otti and his aides must realise that they are not above the law and must follow it.”

Concerns go beyond the violation of the court order. Community members are also raising serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the land acquisition process.

They claim that no comprehensive agreement has been reached with the host communities regarding the exact size of the land to be acquired, the potential impact on their health and livelihoods, and the lack of a publicly available Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the relevant health ministry.

Furthermore, there are allegations that the government is attempting to install handpicked individuals as community leaders and representatives, undermining trust and fuelling resentment.

One Umuala community leader expressed deep disappointment, saying, “I have become distrustful and disappointed in the government that I had trusted to do the right thing.”

He added that, while they are not fundamentally opposed to the airport project, they are deeply concerned about the sheer amount of land being taken and the lack of transparency surrounding the process.

“We have no issues with the Otti administration regarding the Airport project. “We have concerns about the amount of land being acquired,” said a community elder.

“We also have concerns about the manipulative nature of the land acquisition process, the lack of transparency, and the government’s unwillingness to tell landowners how much of their land is being taken over. Instead, they resort to media propaganda, as if anyone is opposed to the airport project.”

Another community leader was frustrated that the state government would send bulldozers to Umuala before resolving outstanding issues.

“Government propaganda will not solve all of the problems associated with the airport project,” he claimed. “We will reach a point where the truth will stand in the way of government propaganda.”

He also appealed to the community, emphasising that no clearing should take place in Umuala until the land owners and enumeration report are released and verified and adequate compensation is paid, as is customary in civilised countries.

The Nsulu Stakeholders Forum (NSF), a well-known community group, has warned that the government’s disregard for the court order could have serious consequences for investor confidence in Abia State.

Mazi Chigoram, the NSF Convenor, argued that such actions send a chilling message to potential investors: “What we are talking about here is a state court order.”

“How would a private investor feel if the Otti government completely ignored and disrespected such an order? That he can get justice in the state if a dispute arises while doing business, and he takes it to court and gets a ruling, and the government ignores it? Nobody will want to visit that kind of state.”

“Without their knowledge, Otti and his aides are aggressively demarketing Abia. Nobody wants to do business in a jurisdiction where court decisions have no meaning.

“We urge the Abia State government to comply with the court’s stay order regarding the proposed Nsulu land acquisition, which we refer to as land grabbing. Otti should not make the Federal Government look bad for approving the airport for us, because proceeding with any land clearing for the time being sends a terrible signal to the public that he disregards court orders.

“We must await the outcome of the case in court; that is what the rule of law requires.”

The Abia State government has yet to officially respond to the allegations. The future of the Abia Airport project, as well as the relationship between the government and the Nsulu communities, is now dependent on the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings and the state government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

The situation is still tense, with communities demanding transparency, equitable compensation, and respect for the court’s authority.