The wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned the upgraded runway of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Onueke Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Oluremi Tinubu arrived at the airport with a Nigerian Air Force plane marked 5N-FGV that landed at 3:18 pm and was received by Governor Francis Nwifuru for the grande finale of the Ebonyi Women’s Day Celebration.
The wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and the wife of the Governor, Mrs Mary Maudline Nwifuru, were also present to receive her.
Also on hand to receive Senator Tinubu were 23 spouses of governors under the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum, led by Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State, and chairperson of the forum.
The First Lady, on arrival, commissioned the upgraded runway of the airport, a project undertaken by the Nwifuru administration.
She also took time to dance with a women’s cultural troupe and residents of the state who trooped to the airport to receive her.
Senator Tinubu is in the state to take part in the grand finale of Ebonyi Women’s Day, an annual event that celebrates the women of the state.
The Commissioner for Aviation, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu, said the airport will commence commercial flight operations next month.
She noted that all the challenges and obstacles that would have prevented the commercial flight takeoff have been swiftly handled by the Governor Nwifuru administration.
Governor Nwifuru thanked President Bola Tinubu for the assistance he gave the state, which enabled the state to upgrade the runway.
“We came in on May 29, 2023, and as of then, we used concrete to build this runway. We didn’t know, as a state, that concrete is not accepted to be used to build runways.
“And when we came in, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority closed the airport, that this place is not a place that a plane can land, and we decided to start rebuilding the runway.
“Based on the support and the help of your husband (the President), by the special grace of God, we did the runway and completed it to be one of the best runways in this country, Nigeria,” he said.
Commissioning the runway, the First Lady commended the governor for the magnificent airport. He also commended Nwifuru for being gender-friendly in his appointments.
“I think your testimonials have really gone ahead of you, and I am really glad to be in Ebonyi State.
“I am really glad we came, and I see how beautiful Nigeria is. You know we don’t promote ourselves. What I saw today, I was even saying that we went to Burundi and I thought they did well. For a state in Nigeria, your runway is better than what I was even commending them for.
“So, we want to thank God for the good work you have been doing. It gladdens my heart when we see people that are young, that they have their hands on their work and they are doing great jobs; they have to be commended,” she said.