By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has described Friday’s test flight landing at the International Cargo and Passenger Airport in Umueri, Anambra State, as sunrise in the state.

He described the airport as the most remarkable and audacious project of all his projects.

Obiano, who spoke at the grand opening of the new airport, hailed chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, for volunteering to use his aircrafts for the test run.

The governor said the airport was built within a record 15 months. According to him, state government did not borrow money to build the airport.

“Our brother, Allen Onyema, volunteered the aircrafts for this air landing test at no cost to us.

“We waited patiently for this day and it is sunrise in Anambra State today. The airport is the most audacious project and the most remarkable too of all my projects.

“We worked on this airport during the pandemic, and we rose above the gloom and doom of COVID-19 to build this airport in 15 months. The most interesting thing for me is that Anambra did not borrow a Kobo to build it,” Obiano said.

Three planes landed at the newly constructed International Cargo and Passenger Airport as part of the ceremony.

Two of the planes which belong to Air Peace Airlines landed at exactly 2:24pm and 2:44pm respectively, while the third plane, a private jet owned by the chairman of Nest Oil, Mr Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obi Jackson, landed at 3:30pm amidst cheers and jubilation.

In his address, Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, in his address, said that he shed tears when he landed at the airport because many didn’t believe that such a day would come.

“Many people condemned me when I talked about the pace of work here. I thank the Federal Government for the approval of this airport and the test landing.

“It is the fastest approval that has ever been made, and I believe this is because of the quality of work.

“This is the first time any plane can do a test land with a big plane. We brought a small one and a big one here. My triple seven aircraft went abroad, else I would have brought it to prove a point, this airport can land an Airbus, which is the biggest airplane,” he stated.

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