Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has confirmed that all landowners affected by the Abia Airport project in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, have received full compensation. Speaking at a Grand Civic Reception and Appreciation Ceremony organized by stakeholders from Isiala Ngwa North and South LGAs at Okpuala-Ngwa, Otti emphasized that the government ensured 100% compensation was paid before any construction began.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the governor assured that those who have not yet received payment likely face issues such as incorrect bank details or ownership disputes, not negligence on the part of the government.
Governor Otti also unveiled plans to develop the airport into an “airport city” that will include a three- or four-star hotel, shopping plazas, markets, and a Nigerian Air Force base. He said access roads to the airport site are currently under construction and are expected to be completed by December. The choice of Nsulu, he explained, was based on expert recommendations due to its central location and easy access to Umuahia and Aba.
The Abia Airport project, a partnership between the Abia State Government and the Federal Government, originally began as a proposal for an airstrip but was later upgraded to a full airport by the state. Construction officially began in December 2024, and Access Bank has shown interest in supporting the development.
Meanwhile, the Umuezeukwu community has renewed its demand for a 500-meter buffer zone between their homes and the airport site, citing concerns about encroachment on ancestral lands and farmlands. They claim previous appeals for a setback were ignored and that they were excluded from earlier land concessions that reduced the project’s footprint from 1,850 hectares to just over 1,000 hectares.
In response, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Land Matters, Okor Aji, reiterated that the land size was already reduced in response to earlier concerns. He stressed that the airport is a federal project and that the land acquisition was carried out in accordance with the Land Use Act.
