Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has urged people from the South-East to patronise international flights operating from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, instead of travelling to Lagos or Abuja to catch international flights.
Chidoka said the availability of passengers would encourage more international airlines to operate from Enugu, stressing that airlines usually establish routes where there is sufficient passenger traffic.
Speaking during an interview, he explained that if residents of the South-East want international airlines to operate regular flights from Enugu, they must demonstrate the demand by travelling directly from the airport.
He cited Ethiopian Airlines as an example, saying that if the airline begins daily flights to Enugu and records about 60 per cent passenger turnover, other international carriers, including Turkish Airlines and Kenya Airways, could consider operating from the state.
The former minister questioned why airlines should be expected to operate from Enugu when passengers from the region routinely travel to Lagos or Abuja to board international flights.
He also recalled travelling with Enugu Air, explaining that the airline operated through Abuja, where it picked up passengers before proceeding to Enugu. He said similar arrangements applied to passengers travelling through Lagos.
Chidoka argued that airlines do not operate routes to certain cities, including Makurdi, Adamawa and Kano, without sufficient passenger demand, noting that the aviation industry is largely driven by commercial considerations.
He further highlighted the development of the international terminal at the Enugu airport, saying the project was initiated during Stella Oduah’s tenure as Minister of Aviation before he continued with it when he assumed office.
According to him, the terminal was not funded through the loan arrangement used for airport projects in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. He explained that the project received presidential approval despite concerns at the time that Enugu did not have enough passenger traffic to justify an international terminal.
Chidoka also criticised what he described as the tendency of some Igbo people to undermine their own achievements, arguing that the South-East has recorded significant progress in areas such as education and healthcare.
On the issue of the new airport in Anambra State, the former minister said the major consideration should be the vision behind the project rather than the mere construction of an airport.
He recalled asking about the purpose of the Anambra airport when he first heard about the project, adding that Governor Chukwuma Soludo explained that it was intended to support the state’s industrial development.
Chidoka compared the development to the Washington metropolitan area in the United States, which is served by three major airports: Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
He explained that airports could serve different economic purposes within nearby locations, particularly where there are major industries that require efficient transportation.
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Using industrialist Aliko Dangote as an example, he said investors should be able to fly directly from Lagos to locations where their businesses operate rather than spend hours travelling by road.
He maintained that heavy industries require supporting transportation infrastructure, adding that he believes Anambra State is moving in the right direction by developing an airport to support its industrial ambitions.
Chidoka also pointed to Nigeria’s growing population, saying the country’s population of about 220 million could double by 2050, making infrastructure development increasingly important.
He further observed that land availability remains a major challenge in the South-East, comparing the landmass of Kogi State to the combined size of the five South-East states.
He concluded that even after his death, his family should not build anything on his grave because of the shortage of land so that they use the space for something else.
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