Stakeholders under the aegis of Nsulu Airport Land Owners and Host Communities have condemned the Abia State government’s decision to clear access roads for the proposed Abia Airport, alleging that the move disregards a court order. Last week, the state government initiated the clearing process for the airport’s runway, asserting that host community members were joyfully receiving their compensation.
Chairman of the Memorandum of Agreement Committee, Uzor Azubuike, stated that Governor Alex Otti had reduced the land acquisition size from 1,800 to 1,000 hectares, as requested by landowners. However, in a statement issued by Israel Ogbonna, head of the media team for the Nsulu stakeholders, it was emphasized that the Abia State High Court in Okpuala Ngwa had, on December 20, 2024, ordered the government to halt work on the project until the hearing and determination of a suit filed by landowner representatives.
Justice Enyinnaya Okezie presided over the case (Suit No. HIN/62/2024), with legal representation for both parties, including C. Ogwo, Acting Director of the Civil Litigation Department, Abia State Ministry of Justice. Despite this, Ogbonna noted that a government team led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba, had deployed bulldozers to the site last week, displaying what he described as disregard for a court ruling.
He further expressed concerns over unresolved issues, including the final agreement on land size, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and the technical details of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The stakeholders are now calling on the Abia government to respect the court order and halt all work on the project until legal matters are resolved.