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Keyamo performs ground-breaking for Abia Airport project
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the Abia Airport project.
In a speech at the event held at Ubaha-Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Keyamo said that the project was upgraded from an airstrip to an international cargo airport.
He described the airport as a presidential initiative because President Bola Tinubu instructed that no part of the country, particularly the South-East, should be left out of aviation development.
Keyamo said that the president specifically requested an airstrip for Abia State in the 2024 Budget due to his affection for the state and its governor.
He also said that Abia Government expressed willingness to partner with the Federal Government through counterpart funding to upgrade the project to an international cargo airport.
The minister highlighted the economic importance of Abia in the country’s industrial ecosystem.
He said that the state is considered the industrial hub of the South-East, producing many “Made in Nigeria” goods.
Keyamo further said that siting a cargo airport in the state would allow goods to be processed and exported directly, boosting logistics and economic activity.
He said that the airport would primarily focus on cargo operations to support industrialisation and trade in Abia and the South-East.
Keyamo said that an airport stands as an enabler that generates economic activities, and its construction should not be dependent on existing commercial demand.
He said that airports play a key role in enhancing connectivity and response to emergencies and Abia being excluded from the aviation ecosystem was deemed unacceptable.
He directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to prioritise employment for people in Nsulu, where the airport will be located, to give them a sense of belonging.
He said that funds were allocated in the 2024 budget to commence clearing and development.
Keyamo also said that the Deputy Speaker had promised prompt approval of subsequent funding in 2025.
He said that the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable infrastructure development, regional economic integration, and industrial growth in Abia.
In an address, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that the airport would accelerate the socioeconomic development of the state.
Otti thanked the president for his commitment to boost socioeconomic advancement of the zone.
He said that the State Government had commenced preparation for the payment of compensation to genuine land owners.
Otti also said that the project would be completed in 36 months and thanked everyone that contributed to marking it a reality.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, expressed confidence that the project would be completed in record time because “Abia is blessed with a governor that understands the importance of synergistic partnership”.
Kalu said that he would work assiduously to ensure that any fund appropriated for the project received speedy approval by the House.
“The people with me here are members of the House from different parts of the country.
“We are promising Abia people that when the budget comes we will look out for the budget that is going to benefit Abia Airport and we will approve it,” he said.
Also, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed the determination of the president to deliver the dividend of democracy to the citizens.
Onyejeocha said that the people of Abia stood to gain enormous economic benefits from the siting of an airport in the state.
The lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, thanked the president for the resolve to build an airport in Abia.
Onwusibe said the project would contribute greatly to the achievement of critical infrastructure development in the area.
In a remark, the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, expressed delight over the fact that “an airport would be built in Abia in our lifetime”.
Wabara also expressed delight over the upgrade of the project from an airstrip to an international airport, where Boeing 737 aircrafts would land.
The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the project as a foundation for the future of economic growth and progress in Abia.
Ukaegbu said that the vision of the airport aligned with the government’s commitment to position Abia as a key economic hub in Nigeria and beyond.
In separate speeches, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Airport Project Coordinator, Mr Okorougo Aji, said that 1,325.86 hectares of land were acquired from nine Nsulu Communities for the project.
They said that Abia Government was working assiduously to ensure that compensation was paid to all those whose land made up the project space.
They also said that Nsulu was chosen as the site for the airport because “all the analysis indicated that the place passed the requirements for an airport”.
A prominent son of Nsulu, Chief Ncheta Omerekpe, thanked the Federal and State Governments for the decision to site an airport in the area.
Omerekpe described the project as a welcome development and appealed to Abia Government to ensure that due compensation was paid to land owners.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians from different walks of life.
NAN also reports that the project is being handled by Craneburg Construction Company. (NAN)
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, has engaged 50 community leaders to help curb the prevalent cases of child abuse in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas of Kaduna.
The Executive Director of the Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, Mrs. Grace Samuel while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday at the sensitization program held in Kaduna, said safeguarding children in various communities is a collective responsibility.
Grace noted that the sensitization program was part of the PLANE initiative to curb the prevalent cases of child abuse being implemented in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas, respectively.
” One of the key challenges we have observed was the absence of children in school during harvest season, where they go to farm just to make quick money at the expense of their education.
” You know there are different levels of child abuse. We have issues of physical abuse, which sometimes we see teachers in classrooms holding Cane, there are things we don’t allow,” Grace stated.
She further explained,” We have emotional abuse which is very common in schools and our communities, noting emotional abuse has to do with derogatory words on children.
” What we’re doing today is sensitizing the parents and stakeholders to avoid such things, and we also have the other side of neglect, which is very common here in the North, where you will see a child staying for a whole day without food.
” Also, sexual abuse of all kinds, rape which is the most prevalent. These are some of the things that we’re also sensitizing the key stakeholders so that, in turn, they’ll trickle down these messages to their various communities.
“Finally, we’ve exploitation, using children to make a profit. You will see parents; instead of working and providing for their families, they, in turn, send their children to hawk or beg to bring the proceeds home. There are many other things they do in this aspect of exploitation.
PUNCH reports that the event brought together Education Secretaries, Local Government Executives, and traditional government Agencies to reflect on their activities in child safeguarding and aim to strengthen the efforts of relevant stakeholders on preventive measures.” she said.
The Director, Social Development, Soba Local Government Area, Aisha Zarma, said most families avoid reporting cases of child abuse particularly rape cases because of stigmatization.
” But we have continued to engage and sensitize them on the need to know is their right to report such cases and get justice.
” We have a special unit in the Local Government where we handle such cases and we have been doing excellently well.” She concluded.
The Kano State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Kano State Censorship Board Amendment Bill 2025, granting the board broader regulatory powers over entertainment and media content in the state.
The passage followed the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House and the third reading by the Clerk, Bashir Diso, during Monday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore.
Briefing journalists after the plenary, the lawmaker representing Dala Constituency, Lawan Husseini, explained that the amendment empowers the board to oversee the registration of event centres and enforce strict compliance with Islamic principles in entertainment-related activities.
He further disclosed that the board’s name had been officially changed from State Censorship Board to Kano State Censorship Board to reflect its jurisdictional authority.
All films, series, and serials must now be censored and certified by the board before they can be aired,” Husseini stated.
Additionally, the amended law prohibits the indiscriminate shooting of films within the state without obtaining prior approval from the board.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Water Users Association Bill 2025 has passed the second reading in the Assembly.
Beneficiaries of the New Nigerian Newspapers, associated with the Northern States Governors Forum, have expressed their deep frustration over the prolonged issue of unpaid benefits totalling N2.1 billion. As of January 2025, the death toll of members awaiting these payments has tragically reached 106.
A statement issued by Alhaji Sadiq Tela on behalf of the Elders Forum, and Friday Sule for the Joint Union of the New Nigerian Newspapers, highlights that “following the recent out-of-court settlement between the Northern Governors and Albert Iweka and Co, which was ratified on 27th November 2024 by the Federal High Court, expectations have soared due to the extreme poverty exacerbated by the delay in these benefits.”
It is worth noting that Barrister Iweka and Idi Sule, both former employees of the New Nigerian Newspapers, had previously taken the Northern Governors to court over the payment of check-off dues. They successfully secured a garnishee order that froze the account of New Capital Properties Limited (NCPL), where the proceeds from the sale of NNN assets were held.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the New Nigerian Beneficiaries, the case was eventually dismissed, and all previous garnishee orders were vacated, with all parties duly settled except for the New Nigerian Beneficiaries,” the statement emphasised.
The statement further lamented, “More than 100 days have passed since the resolution of this decade-long court battle, yet all New Nigerian Beneficiaries who served the 19 Northern Governors continue to suffer in silence, overwhelmed by pain and despair.”
However, the workers have praised the current Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna for providing some relief through strategic discussions with the Northern Nigeria Development Company and the Northern Governors’ Secretariats. “These efforts are comforting, but in light of the harsh economic realities, the over 800 beneficiaries who have nearly 10,000 dependants are left in tears,” they added.
The statement reiterated, “The Northern Governors, led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, possess the authority to shape the futures of nearly 1,000 New Nigerian Beneficiaries.”
“We take this opportunity to implore our Northern Governors’ Forum to extend their support, as the death toll of NNN beneficiaries awaiting payment has sadly risen to 106 as of January 2025.”
“In the spirit of Ramadan, we beseech our Northern Governors to show compassion towards our families, as many of us are struggling to break our fast.