Kehinde Fajobi
Village heads from the proposed Abia Airport host communities in Isiala Ngwa North have rejected an invitation to a government meeting in Umuahia, scheduled for today, February 13, insisting that discussions continue with their appointed technical committee.
In a letter to Pastor Okorougo Aji, Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands & Housing and Coordinator of the Abia Airport Project, the village heads stressed that they had designated a technical team to address unresolved concerns, particularly the size of the land being acquired and the socio-economic impact on their communities.
“In line with our previous agreement, the village heads and their representatives will not be attending the scheduled meeting on February 6, 2025,” the letter read.
“We strongly encourage the government to continue discussions with our technical committee, which will subsequently report back to us on the outcomes of their engagement.”
The letter, signed by Engr. Ikechukwu Uche and Gabriel Echezolam as Chairman of Chairmen and Secretary, reaffirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue.
“Our people remain committed to meaningful engagement with the government to address outstanding issues and explore fair and just resolutions.
“Once substantial progress has been achieved, an expanded meeting, including village and compound heads, as well as youth and women representatives, will be convened to formalise any agreements reached,” they stated.
The village heads recalled that the decision was reached at a stakeholder meeting on January 3, 2025, attended by government representatives, landowners, the state DSS director, and the Commissioner of Police, and was reaffirmed the following day.
Speaking to journalists, Uche accused the Abia State Government team of misrepresenting their position.
“We are being blackmailed by the Abia State Government Team. They keep sending wrong signals to the governor and Abians, insinuating that we are opposed to the project. That is not the true position,” he said.
“Our concern is knowing the actual size of the project and seeing the map, so we can engage our private surveyor to confirm if what they told us aligns with what is on the ground. We are also asking for the unbundling of the project.
“The airport project we know and have accepted, but the Airport Housing Estate, five-star hotel, hospital, and schools are shrouded in secrecy. We have been asking—who owns these projects? The Federal Government, Abia State, or private investors?
“We cannot give land for the airport and still accommodate these other projects without knowing the owners,” Uche added.
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Echezolam, the forum’s secretary, questioned the government’s intent, alleging a lack of transparency.
“They are inviting us to a meeting while secretly planning enumeration without any memorandum of understanding with the technical team. That is suspicious,” he said.
He warned against being pressured into signing documents without full knowledge of their contents, citing the case of Abia pensioners who later contested agreements they had signed.
“We have carefully selected our technical team. Let them deal with the team first. We will only engage the state government after all loose ends are tied, and then we will fully join them for the enumeration,” he stated.