NCAA finally gives go ahead for commencement of commercial flights in Anambra Airport
NCAA finally gives go ahead for commencement of commercial flights in Anambra Airport
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued authority to the Anambra government to open the State’s International Cargo and Passenger Airport for commercial operations with effect from 2nd December 2021.
The state Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor disclosed this to journalists on Thursday.
Ifejio said the approval was contained in a letter dated 1st December 2021, addressed to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.
The letter read: “The aviation authority said it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening. It said that the negative security clearance was the reason the authority had declined approval for the opening of the airport on the 30th of October 2021, when the state government had scheduled the commissioning.
“In the interim, Category B Aircrafts are permitted to land and take off from the airport from sunrise to sunset.”
The Commissioner praised the efforts of Governor Obiano who he said never relented, even while on vacation to ensure that the Anambra airport becomes operational ahead of the Christmas 2021 mass return of Ndi Anambra living in the diaspora, and other visitors.
“With this NCAA clearance, airlines already approved by the relevant authorities to operate at the Anambra airport such as Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria and others are expected to start scheduling flights into and out of the airport immediately,” he said.
Recall that in October Anambra State governor, William Obiano had after a tour of the airport and the International Conference Centre in Umueri and Awka, stated that it had sought approval from the federal government through NCAA to open its cargo airport for operations from the 21st of October 2021.
The Governor noted that it was difficult to create a new economic corridor without a functional international airport that will serve as a direct bridge between the state and the world.
