Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, on Saturday, inaugurated the newly-built Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport located at Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area.
The airport, described by the state government in terms of facilities as one of the best in Sub-Saharan Africa, has 3.7km runway and 34.4m control tower.
Contrary to public expectations that commercial flights would land during the inauguration, no aircraft landed.
Obiano said at the inauguration that five airlines had been approved to begin operations at the airport.
He listed the airlines as Airpeace Nig Ltd, United Nigeria Airline Ltd, Dana Airline Ltd., Ibom Airline Ltd and Anab Jet Ltd.
Obiano said that the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Musa Nuhu, had handed the certificate of commercial flights operations.
He said that the authority insisted that the approved airlines must have facilities on ground to ensure passengers’ comfort.
The governor said that he was fulfilled establishing the airport after more than 30 years of the creation of Anambra State.
“Previous administrations tried to build an airport, but we thank God that we were able to achieve the project,” he said.
He appealed to people of the state to fully support the operations of the airport to ensure its viability.
Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor, said that it took the state government 20 months to complete the airport.
Ifejiofor said that facilities at the airport were among the best in the country.
