Umuezeukwu community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State has renewed its appeal to the state government for a further reduction in the size of land allocated for the proposed Abia Airport project.
Community leaders told journalists on Monday in Umuezeukwu that their longstanding request for a 500-metre buffer zone between the airport and their homes had been repeatedly ignored. They alleged that security operatives had been deployed to intimidate residents, and multiple letters sent to the government had gone unanswered.
They called on Governor Alex Otti to personally visit the community, expressing concern that his aides may be misrepresenting the project’s true impact.
A community leader, Chief Uche Ubani, said residents were facing the loss of ancestral homes and farmlands, leaving them and future generations without space for shelter or burial.
“When the area for the project was 1,850 hectares, it was first reduced to 1,550 hectares, removing Agburuike and Umuogu communities. The second reduction removed Ikputu completely, and Umule in Umuosu and Umuode saw a 60 per cent reduction. Ubaha got a 30 per cent cut, but Umuezeukwu was left out entirely,” he stated.
He urged the government to urgently implement a minimum 500-metre setback from homes in Umuezeukwu.
Mr Ebere Adieze, President General of the community, decried what he described as harassment for speaking out. He denied claims that he had met with the state’s Attorney-General to endorse the project.
“Rather than a setback, our houses and farmlands are now inside the airport. This is not about compensation—it’s about survival. We are all farmers. If these lands are taken, the next generation will have nowhere to live,” he said.
Another community member, Chidiadi Ehilegbu, criticised the government’s move to acquire additional land for access roads, which he said would further impact their livelihoods.
“We’re not asking for compensation. The government should recognise our rights and engage with us in meaningful dialogue,” he added.
In response, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Land Matters, Mr Okor Aji, dismissed the claims, stating that the government had been fair to all landowners. He said the project’s footprint had already been reduced from 1,800 hectares to just over 1,000 following earlier appeals.
“The airport is a Federal Government project, and the state government has fulfilled its duty by providing the land under the Land Use Act,” he said, noting that initial plans included a railway station as part of the airport.
(NAN)