History was made on Tuesday at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu as the first international flight made its landing.
The aircraft marked No 5MPZE landed at the modernised airport at about 3.20pm, making it the first international aircraft to touch down at the airport after it was upgraded.
On board was billionaire businessman, Chief Arthur Eze, who flew into the airport in a private jet directly from Europe and Senegal.
This came four days to the official landing of international commercial flights at the airport.
Although work on the project is still on-going at the various sections of the airport, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has slated the official commencement of international flights from Enugu for Saturday with the Ethiopian airline billed to fly in and out of the coal city.
Speaking to Journalists after the four-hour flight from Senegal to Enugu, Prince Eze praised President Jonathan for living up to his promise.
He remarked that the upgrading of the airport would boost the economy of the South East.
He said, “Look at me, I flew from Senegal to Enugu for four hours non-stop. I don’t need to go to Lagos or Abuja to catch direct flight again to Europe or Senegal.
“I can now go from my house to any place of choice. It is a good thing and I thank God for the development. The people of the South East will live to enjoy this because it will grow our economy”.
The business mogul recalled that Ndigbo had been clamouring for an international airport from the military era up to the Olusegun Obasanjo administration all no avail, noting that Jonathan came on board and approved the airport and backed the project with resources.
“I am the first beneficiary of this beautiful airport, I am grateful to Jonathan. Jonathan has saved the life of Igbo people by reducing their suffering. Right now Igbo people who are noted for traveling overseas for businesses can do so from their zone.
“Jonathan has demonstrated that he is a wonderful human being and God will continue to bless him”, Eze added.
DailyPost recalls that President Goodluck Jonathan gave approval for the upgrading of the airport to an international status two years ago.
The President was at the airport early this year when he laid the foundation for the construction of the international wing. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Kudos to our dear president for this wonderful deed and we Igbos are hoping that one day his Excellency will do the same thing to Onitsha inland Port so that one day those who are putting a lot of insults to Igbos will understand that an Igbo man no matter what he makes outside still prefers his homeland .
ReplyDeletegood news, kudos to Jona for this one
ReplyDeleteAm happy to hear this. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why Obasanjo did not give Igbos an international airport in 8years.....he must truly hate Igbos
ReplyDeleteDid not give?. Man wake up nobody gives anymore. You take your destiny in your own hands.
DeleteI am not impressed with GEJ's administration but on this I commend him. He and Stella Odua deserve the kudos. Congrats to you both and the good people of Enugu.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why we are applauding Jonathan for this. International airports should be in every major cities, like PH, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Abuja, Calabar, Jos, Benin.
ReplyDeleteWe should have International airports in all the major cities in the country.
ReplyDeleteI have always believed that GEJ will accomplish more greater than we expected if allowed 2 concentrate... kudos!!! to GEJ & God bless Nigeria!!!
ReplyDeleteNigerians should begin to be knowledgeable. Go through Records,making this Enugu Airport up to international standards did not start from Jonathan's regime. This work recently completed,started b4 GEJ became President, he is privileged to have it completed in his own time. When tributes are to be given,pls let it touch all involved in the process of making it work. This type of approach helps to to trivialise our political apparatus,since pple will seem to attribute achievements wrongly thereby giving credit to the wrong pple. There ate pple responsible for this achievement, who have not been mentioned anywhere in this success story.
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