Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has revealed how the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti rejected the Federal Government’s proposal to construct an airstrip in the state.

Otti has chosen to build a full-scale international airport, he said.

Keyamo was said to have made the disclosure during the formal unveiling of two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft purchased by United Nigeria Airlines in Lagos.

Keyamo also revealed that negotiations were underway for the first direct international cargo flight from Guangzhou, China, to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

“The federal government made an initial proposal for an airstrip for Abia State and captured the project in the 2024 budget as part of efforts to expand aviation infrastructure across the country,” he said.

The minister said the decision was in response to his recommendation to President Bola Tinubu that Abia State had no airport and no airstrip.

However, he said Otti approached the President with a proposal to upgrade the project into an international airport through a counterpart funding arrangement.

“When we came to power, I went to Mr President saying Abia does not have an airstrip or an airport in the whole of the South-East. Keyamo said: He said, ” budget it in. In the budget of 2024, we put the Abia airstrip as one of our first projects.

But credit to Dr Alex Otti, who was not satisfied with that. He went straight to Mr President behind me and said, ‘Sir, bring the money for the airstrip, I have funding. “It’s going to be a full international airport now.” ‘Don’t give me an airstrip, but bring the money,’ he said. “I will construct a full-fledged international airport in Umauhia, Abia State with counterpart funding. That project has blossomed under his leadership. “In fact, Abia has brought more money than the federal government.”

“They (Enugu State government) want to make it (Enugu Airport) a cargo hub for the whole of the South-East,” he said on direct cargo flights from Guangzhou to Enugu.

“We are negotiating for the first direct flight from Guangzhou to Enugu in December. I am working with the Enugu State governor. This will enable all traders, especially our brothers from the South-East who do business in China to go twice every week, put all their goods into one cargo and have it go straight from Guangzhou to Enugu. Then it can be taken to Onitsha and Aba.”