Abia communities protest over proposed airport site

There were protests on Saturday at Umuezenta, Umuomaunta Mbawsi Nsulu, by people who identified themselves as landowners from the eight communities where the Abia State government has proposed to build an airport.

The protesters, comprised of youths and elderly persons, said they opposed the state government using their ancestral lands for the airport project.

According to them, the proposed project will lead to the destruction of their farmlands, adding that successive administrations in the state treated them unfairly.

Speaking during the protest, the village head of Umuezenta, Mr Ukaumunna Echezolam, said that the Abia State government did not meet the right persons before taking the decision to site the airport on their land.

He said that the project, if built, would make his people lose their lands, which are their sources of livelihood.

According to him, youths whose fathers are still alive cannot decide for their communities, adding that his people still lack basic amenities.

On whether the community will reverse its decision if the right persons from the community are met by the Abia State government concerning the airport project, Echezolam reiterated that there will be no compromise.

Echezolam also stated that Nsulu communities had in the past given lands to the Abia State Government, citing the Nsulu Games Village and Ntigha Inland Dry Port (IDP) project in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area, among others, which took a large chunk of their lands.

The Abia State government has yet to react to the protest as of the time of the report.