Anambra international airport Umueri on Tuesday, carried out the first-ever commercial flight from Lagos and Abuja, and it is the first since the facility became ready for use two months ago, the state Broadcasting Service reports.
According to the report by Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), the debut flight by Anambra international airport is coming days after the Aviation regulator, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority issued authority to the state government for the take-off of commercial flight operation at the airport, effective, December, 2nd, 2021.
The aircraft, labelled 5N BVD from Lagos airport touched down at exactly 2:30 pm, after a flight duration of 40 minutes.
The Commissioner for Works, Engineer Marcel Ifejiofor gave an assurance that they would give their full support to the project to ensure that it remained in business and also ensure that its services benefitted generations yet unborn.
According to an elated Traditional Ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka, it is a long dream come true as he welcomed the crew and passengers soon after the aircraft landed.
Igwe Emeka urged the government to fast track the set up a pilot training school and an aircraft’s maintenance and repairs centre at the Airport to make it an aviation hub in West Africa, calling on the public to patronise the airport.
As for some of the passengers, Dr Tim Menakaya and Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu who were en route to Abuja, the long uncertainty over when the Anambra international cargo airport will become operational is finally over. And is great cause for joy, just as the member representing Njikoka Constituency Two at the State House of Assembly, Sir Pete Ibida extolled Anambra State Governor for living the dream, expressing optimism that the incoming administration will sustain and add to the project.
Among the passengers who disembarked from the plane was Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke who described the flight movement as smooth, said that the commencement of flights to and from the Anambra Airport would definitely change the economic status of the State in particular and the South East region in general.