Chinedum Elekwachi
Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government Area has expressed worry over deplorable condition of the road leading to the Chinua Achebe International Airport in his
Traditional ruler of the community Igwe Sir Ben Emeka, Okebo II raised the concern during a press briefing ahead of the community’s New Yam Festival slated for September 6, 2025.
He said apart from the long distance of the road to the airport, the road bad condition exposes them to insecurity, with criminals taking advantage of the situation to attack his people.
Igwe Emeka appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to assist the community by constructing direct access road to the airport.
He said, “I’ve repeatedly appealed to the Governor, both privately and publicly, to construct an access road to the airport.
“Umueri generously donated 1,900 hectares of land, a feat unmatched by any other community.
Long route to airport at backyard
“It’s however disheartening that we have to take a long route through Oyi Local Government Area to access the airport when a 4-kilometer uncompleted road from Umueri could provide direct access.
“As the Igwe and on behalf of the Umueri community, I’m pained that we sacrificed our land for the airport yet struggle to reach it.
“The poor road condition has also made us vulnerable to insecurity, with criminals taking advantage of the situation. I implore the Governor to assist Ndi Umueri.
“It’s unsettling to think that we provided land for the airport, yet we’re unable to access it conveniently.
“Rehabilitating the road would significantly improve our situation, reducing travel time to just three minutes.”
Airport underutilization
The monarch also raised concerns over the airport’s underutilization, citing limited number of flights operating weekly.
He requested government to construct warehouses to store goods in order to attract investors and increase traffic and utilization of the airport.
“Notably, the airport’s performance is subpar, with only three flights operating weekly.
“We request that the Governor investigates the issues hindering the airport’s performance and makes necessary interventions to improve it.
“The limited flight schedule, with some flights operating only once a week, is unusual and results in underutilization.
“Moreover, warehouses are a key feature of cargo airports. To enhance the airport’s functionality and attract more traffic, the government should allocate land to investors to build warehouses for storing goods, similar to those found in Port Harcourt, Lagos, and other major cities.”
Reacting on the upcoming governorship election in the state, the royal father praised Soludo’s impressive achievements in the State.
He highlighted the Governor’s notable projects in Umueri, including the renovation of the community’s 80-year-old general hospital built through communal efforts.
He said Soludo’s administration not only upgraded the hospital’s infrastructure but also staffed it with doctors and nurses, surpassing the initial repairs done by former Governor Willie Obiano.
“We also thank the Governor for appointing sons and daughters of Umueri to key positions, including Chief of Staff, Anambra East Local Government Chairperson, Commissioners and others,” he added.
