Landowners of the proposed Abia airport in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, have rejected the acquisition of 1,025 hectares of land for the airport project, saying it would have catastrophic consequences on their communities.
In an open letter to Governor Alex Otti of the state, the landowners said: “On land mass, we strongly object to the proposed acquisition of 1,025 hectares of land for the Abia Airport, Nsulu, as it would have catastrophic consequences for our communities. The loss of this vast tract of land would lead to insufficient land for farming, housing, and essential needs, ultimately resulting in hunger, starvation, and potential extinction.
“Furthermore, the proposed land acquisition would exacerbate existing socio-economic challenges, increasing poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Our communities would be left with reduced space for new homes, burial grounds, and community development, threatening our very way of life.
“In comparison, nearby airports such as Owerri, Ebonyi, and Enugu occupy between 250-360 hectares. In similar light, Abia State can learn from the design of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, MIAA, in Manila, Philippines, for example, which handles 48 million passengers annually and was built on 440 hectares. It has 4 terminal buildings, 7 hangar bays and a runway of 6km! “Considering these concerns, we propose negotiating a land size of not more than 400 hectares for the airport. This compromise would balance the needs of the airport with the livelihoods and well-being of our communities
