Abia state governor, Alex Otti says his government is on the same page with the host communities of Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
Governor Otti stated this on Thursday, after rising from a crucial meeting between the state government and the representatives of the Nsulu Airport Communities’ Landowners Forum held in Government House, Umuahia.
The governor, represented by his chief of staff, Pastor Calab Ajagba noted that the meeting was in furtherance to his community engagements with the landowners which he had assured would be continued.
He disclosed that certain agreements have been reached between the government and the people of Nsulu, which the government is committed to fulfilling them.
“There is no doubt that all of us here are on the same page in terms of the relevance and importance of this project to Abia state.
“A number of decisions have been reached and I will outline them. We have been able to touch base with them, also to seek their productive collaboration to make sure that within the space that has been projected for the completion of this airport work continues unabated.
“We have also on the same platform that the cutting of the traces must be completed to ensure that we identify the genuine landowners.
“We have agreed that after that is done enumeration will continue and adequate compensation would be paid ,” Otti stated.
Governor Otti also said that it was agreed that the indigenes would be the first to be considered for employment at the completion of the project, adding that the project would not be abandoned.
He assured that the engagements would continue until the project is finally completed.
The governor appreciated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu for his magnanimity in making sure that the airport is brought to Abia state.
He equally thanked all Nsulu sons and daughters who have shown commitment and sincerity of purpose in making sure that they identify with the plans and purposes of the present administration in Abia state.
Speaking on behalf of the representatives of the Nsulu Airport Communities’ Landowners Forum, Uzo Azubike said the people of Nsulu are happy with the outcome of the meeting.
According to him, “We have seen the government redirect itself from people that we consider intruders and pretenders who had no land in the affected area, trying to distract government from the real owners of the land and people mistook that for the land owners resisting development.
“We are happy that the government have shown humility by listening to the land owners and their complaints.
“Government has made the first adjustment by reducing the area that they intended to use for the project and in the meeting today, we have also pleaded with the government to go further and reduce the land knowing that our people are agrarian people who live all their lives on the land,” Azubuike stated.
“We’ve made so many proposals and we can see that the government is willing to listen to us and we will go home now and tell our people who sent us to give government every cooperation to identify the land.”