Abia airport: Ikpeazu dares Otti over alleged missing N10bn fund


The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has responded to the allegation of diverting N10 billion meant for the construction of an airport in Aba, saying as someone with executive power at that time, no one could question his decision not to go ahead with the project.

While admitting that the sum of N10 billion was earmarked for the construction of an airport to boost commercial life in Aba, the former governor said he realized that roads to the major markets in the city were in a bad shape, making interconnection difficult.

“So we decided to suspend the airport project. Today, when people talk about the money for the airport and all that, it’s as if they are questioning my decision to change my mind and I had the right at that time to say “I don’t want this airport now”.

“Because of you land at the airport, where are you going to? You can’t go to Ariaria. We had to change the status quo at that time, and I am happy that I finished Eziukwu Road from that fund. I finished Faulks road from that fund; Ngwa Road is okay, and Osusu Road is okay.

“So today, you can connect Ariaria through Osusu road to Eziukwu market and connect Eziukwu road to Ngwa road market. I succeeded in interconnecting all the markets courtesy of that fund, with which we were supposed to construct an airport,” he explained.

The former governor further explained that, if his administration had gone ahead with the airport project, the sum of N10 billion would not have completed it, saying it would have amounted to tying the money, as some airports in the country are not viable.

He also dismissed allegations that the fund was diverted to about 32 accounts, insisting that those who received money from the funds were contractors who carried out various projects and they were less than 32.

He also challenged Governor Alex Otti’s government to follow the trail and check if a dime was diverted to an individual’s account from the N10 billion.

He listed other projects completed from that fund to include, Faulks Road, Eziukwu Road, Ojike Lane, Milverton Avenue, and others.

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