By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Government has refuted reports circulating on social media and some news platforms claiming that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is set to construct a new airport in Ndikelionwu, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
The viral news reports, accompanied by photos, which started trending on Friday morning, alleged that the Soludo-led government had commenced processes for the said new airport project. The reports also quoted the Managing Director of Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport, Umueri, Engr. Martins Emeka Nwafor, as leading a site inspection on proposed land for the said project at Ndikelionwu, alongside officials and community leaders.
The trending story further claimed that the project, tagged as an airport and aerotropolis initiative, was part of the governor’s plan to industrialise the state and create jobs.
However, when contacted by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, on Friday, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, described the viral reports as fake and misleading, declaring that the Soludo-led government has no immediate plan to build another airport in the state.
“I’m not aware of that. I’m not aware of it. There is nothing like that, nothing,” Dr. Mefor emphatically stated.
According to him, “All I know is that we have what you call the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City, and a complete industrial park ought to have an airport attached to it. But you need to build the park first before you talk about airports. The park is not in place, so why the airport?”
Commissioner Mefor explained that any project of such magnitude must pass through due process and secure approval of the State Executive Council (Exco) before it can be announced or implemented.
In his words, every project is approved by the State Executive Council, but nothing like that has come before the Executive Council; hence, it does not exist.
“The governor himself hasn’t mentioned anything like airport project yet. In actual sense, there is nothing like that. The governor hasn’t said anything about any such project, and the Exco hasn’t approved it. If they haven’t, how then can it exist, and who will approve the fund for its execution?” he queried.
Dr. Mefor stressed that feasibility studies, contract approvals, and funding sources are prerequisites for such projects, none of which have been initiated.
“If you want a project like that, you do feasibility studies, you conclude your studies, then the studies are submitted, officially accepted or rejected, modified, then you begin to talk about funds. Then you award the contract. That is the point when the world can know that such a thing is going on. So, there is no such contract anywhere. Nothing like that,” he explained.
On the alleged site visit led by Engr. Nwafor, the Commissioner said he was unaware of any such activity and dismissed it as an unofficial venture.
“There wasn’t even anything like a site tour to my knowledge yesterday. Nobody invited me to any site tour and I wasn’t officially informed. If there was anything like that, maybe it was a committee working on something or individuals prospecting. But officially, Anambra State Government has not approved any airport,” he clarified.
While acknowledging that Anambra is a commercial state, he further noted that private individuals are also free to build and own an airport, stressing that any such move that could be a private initiative should not be mistaken as government projects.
“If anyone is planning to build an airport, he hasn’t told me, but I believe some individuals have the contacts and the resources to do that kind of project, after all, individuals own airport.
“However, to the best of my knowledge, Anambra State Government has not approved any airport, has not contracted anybody to do any airport, and has not received any report about the viability of an additional airport. I’m the Commissioner for Information, and if there was any such thing, I should know,” he stated.
Dr. Mefor emphasized that Governor Soludo’s development agenda, particularly the “Next Big Steps” blueprint, has no provision for a new airport.
“Go and read the Next Big Steps — what Soludo plans to do when he is re-elected. Airport is not amongst them. So, there is no immediate plan to build an airport. That’s not in the horizon at all,” he declared.
He listed projects currently prioritized by the Soludo administration to include railways, power projects, industrial parks, and hospitality developments such as the proposed Marriott Hotel — but not an airport.
“Soludo has never mentioned an airport in the last one year. Whoever is bringing that up is simply speculating. Maybe because a standard industrial park usually has an airport, but even when the industrial park is built, attaching an airport to it will be futuristic, not immediate,” he added.
The Commissioner also clarified the model being used for the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City, which he described as government-driven in terms of amenities, while investors are expected to handle industries and long-term development.
“The government is providing the infrastructure — power, roads, water. The substation to power the industrial city is already 80 percent completed. But the real work in terms of factories and industries will be done by investors, and that takes time. So, if eventually there is an airport attached, it will also be in the long-term,” he explained.
Dr. Mefor concluded by urging the public to disregard the trending reports, which he described as fake and misleading.
“When we are ready for an additional airport, when it becomes necessary, the Governor himself, or I will officially inform the press. But, for now, there is no such plan,” he concluded.
