It was a history making event as people from all walks of life gathered as the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport in Umueri community, Anambra East local government area was, yesterday, Friday April 30th inaugurated by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano.
Air Peace aircraft, marked 5N-BUJ landed at exactly 2:25pm, making history as first airline to land in Anambra International Passenger & Cargo Airport. Two other airplanes also landed on the facility.
Captain Nwando Phina Okpalaeke, from Airpeace who was one of the pilots who did a test run during the inauguration ceremony has been praised by social media users. She is a proud graduate of Computer Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University Ghana. She later had her professional training as a pilot in South Africa where she became certified to fly commercial aeroplanes.
The airport has a four-storey terminal building with shops, a ten floor control tower and a car pack that can accommodate 750 vehicles, reports say.
Speaking on the feat, governor of the state Obiano said: “The most interesting thing about this airport is that we did not borrow a Kobo to build it. This, in itself, is a record in leadership.
“Our dream for an airport started almost 30 years ago when the government of Anambra State acquired 530 hectares of land in Oba, Idemili South LGA with the intention of building an airport but that never materialised. That dream is fulfilled today.
“We began the airport to expand the frontiers of excellence in Anambra State seven years ago. We announced that our mission was to make Anambra State the first choice in investment destination and a hub for economic and commercial activities.
“And we also said that our mission was to create a socialist table where indigenes and non indigenes alike will have opportunities for wealth creation. This airport is the fulfilment of our vision and mission statement.
“It is difficult to create a new economic corridor without a functional international airport that will serve as a direct bridge between us and the world.”
The CEO of Air Peace, Chief Onyema said he was delighted to have his planes as the first to land at the airport which has the longest runway in the country, Vanguard reports.
