Anambra: Air Peace didn't pay N100m for aircraft facility - Igwe Emeka

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By Madu Obi

The people of Umueri, Anambra East local government area of Anambra State, have debunked the claim that the chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Chief Allen Onyema, paid the community N100 million for a proposed Maintenance, Repair and Overall (MRO) facility at the state- owned Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport in the community.

In a statement titled, "Umueri community sets the record straight", the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Bennett Emeka said Umueri never allocated any land to Chief Onyema.

The Royal Father said his community was made aware of the malicious claims attributed to the owner of Air Peace, which, he added, was trending on social media and elsewhere.

Igwe Emeka's statement read: "The false claims allege that Chief Onyema decided to site his N32 billion Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos because the local community refused to provide land for the project, even after he had paid them N100 million for the purpose.

The Umueri community categorically states that these claims are false and misleading. As records show, the Umueri community cooperated with the Anambra State government in the establishment of the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, situated at Ivite-Umueri in Umueri, Anambra State.

The airport was officially launched in 2017 and inaugurated for commercial operations on October 30, 2021. Today, the airport serves several neighbouring states, with airlines operating flights to and from Abuja and Lagos.

The Anambra State government acquired the entire land for the airport in lots: A, B, C and D. It latter released Parcel D to Umueri community."

The community said it was aware that Chief Onyema applied for land to build an MRO facility at the airport, adding that his application was approved by Chief Willie Obiano, the then Governor of Anambra State, who also approved another piece of land for the Nigerian Air Force.

We are further aware that the land allocated to Chief Onyema for his proposed MRO facility sits next to the Cargo Apron and Control Tower. The said land is in Parcel A, which the state government acquired.

The story that Umueri community warned Chief Onyema off their land can only have come from an imagination intent on tarnishing the good name of our community.

It is not true that Chief Onyema paid the Umueri community N100 million. We never allocated any land to the man. The Anambra State government did. We, therefore, cannot have demanded or received any payment from him.

We assert that we have documents that disprove the airline owner's claims, and we are willing to make them available to relevant authorities and the public", the statement added.

Igwe Emeka said his community has always been supportive of development initiatives and will continue to work with stakeholders to foster economic growth and progress in Anambra State.

He, therefore, urged the public to disregard the false claims and recognize the community's commitment to cooperation and development.