David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has authorised the Anambra State Government to commence commercial operations in its International Airport from December 2, 2021.
The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor, disclosed this to journalists yesterday.
Ifejiofor said the approval was contained in a letter dated December 1, 2021, addressed to the state Governor, Willie Obiano, as he displayed the letter issued by NCAA.
He said: “The aviation authority said it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening. It said the negative security clearance was the reason the authority had declined approval for the opening of the airport on October 30 2021, when the state government had scheduled the inauguration of the airport.
“In the interim, Category ‘B’ aircrafts are permitted to land and take off from the airport from sunrise to sunset.”
The commissioner praised the efforts of the governor, who he said never relented, even while on vacation to ensure that the airport becomes operational ahead of Christmas mass return of Ndi Anambra living in the Diaspora, and other visitors.
“With this NCAA clearance, airlines already approved by the relevant authorities to operate at the Anambra airport such as Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria and others are expected to start scheduling flights into and out of the airport immediately,” he said.
