By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Federal lawmaker, Prince Cornelius Nnaji, has condemned the recent malicious demolition of the perimeter fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Nnaji, who represents Enugu East and Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, also condemned the demolition of buildings belonging to his constituents close to the airport.

The lawmaker spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Enugu after inspecting the extent of damage at the airport fence and other private residences after the Airport Extension Layout.

It would be recalled that a long stretch of the airport fence and some private residence buildings within the lawmaker"s constituency were demolished on Aug 11.

Nnaji said that the act, which was tantamount to national sabotage, was barbaric and anti-development.

“Nobody from my community is happy with what happened. Everybody here condemned the act.

“Architect John Emejulu, the alleged demolisher, didn’t end only maliciously destroying Federal Government property, he went ahead and demolished people’s property.

“He demolished people’s structures at this critical period when everybody is managing financially due to the COVID-19.

“We are not only talking about the perimeter fence of the Airport, people’s buildings were demolished and this is not the first time he is demolishing people’s buildings.

“These less privileged people that have no voice, he maliciously demolished their building as well, are people from my constituency and I must speak for them,” the lawmaker, who is a former Chairman of Enugu East council area, said.

Nnaji, who is a prince from the royal family of Nnaji and owners of the airport land, said that the alleged demolisher of the airport perimeter fence had no land at the airport or its extension as he claimed.

According to him, there is no such record in the Nike royal or traditional record to my knowledge since I am a member of the royal family here.

“I want to say it categorically that Emejulu doesn’t own a land in that place.

“Secondly, the area we are talking is Airport road extension which I know the government duly took over for extension of Akanu Ibiam International Airport; and by virtue of land act, government owns every land.

“So, that land in question doesn’t belong to Emejulu that can warrant him going there to destroy government properties which all of us condemned in its entirety,” he added.

On the airport rehabilitation and extension project, the lawmaker lauded the Federal Government for the fast pace of work, adding: “I am satisfied with what I saw during the inspection”.

“The rehabilitation of runway is almost completed. The major thing is that the Hononourable minister reassured that the airport will be reopened by Aug. 30.

“That gives joy to everything, despite the demolition of ongoing perimeter fence of the Airport by Arch John Emejulu,” he added.

Efforts to reach Emejulu for his response failed as his numbers were switched off.