Abia Govt Confirms Compensation for Abia Airport Runway Landowners

The Abia State Government says it has completed compensation payments to landowners whose property falls within the runway of the ongoing Abia Airport project at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA.

Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, disclosed this during a fact-finding visit to the site on Friday, accompanied by the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, and other senior officials.

Ajagba explained that more than 3,500 beneficiaries have been paid and that any remaining cases are due to issues such as incomplete indemnity certificates or banking challenges.

“Everybody will get paid. For now, we are concentrating on the runway. If anyone is yet to receive payment, it is an exceptional case that will be addressed individually,” he said.

He added that a tractor operator’s earlier clearing of non-enumerated areas was a human error that has been corrected to the satisfaction of the host community.

Commissioner Chukwumerije reaffirmed that all runway landowners have been settled and urged anyone who has signed an indemnity certificate but is yet to be paid to submit their details for immediate action. He noted that payments for land outside the runway will be completed once the final report is ready by the end of September 2025.

Community representatives, including Mr. Echezola Ukaumunna and several landowners, expressed satisfaction with the government’s explanations and pledged continued support for the airport project.

The delegation also included the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr. Matthew Ekwuribe, and the Governor’s Special Assistant on Lands and Housing/Project Coordinator, Pastor Okorougo Aji.