By Victor Nwegede
The Ebonyi State Commissioner on Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, has fumed and lambasted fake news purveyors for alleging that the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Onueke, Ezza South LGA of the state was converted into an event centre.
Obichukwu emphasized that the airport was never used as an event centre but was used for the lifting of over 204 overseas scholarship students who boarded their aircraft and left for foreign countries.
The Commissioner warned sternly the fake news peddlers in the state to desist from accusing the state government of converting the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport into an event centre.
It could be recalled that the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport had one month recorded over 22 flight operations from Ebonyi to Abuja and Ebonyi to Lagos, Nigeria, and vis-a-vis and still counting.
Obichukwu, who reacted to the alleged fake news by some critics circulating on social media platforms and some perceived dubious unidentified online websites, described the allegation of converting the airport into an event centre as baseless, unfounded and falsehoods.
She called on the citizens of the state, national and international agencies partnering with the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport to ignore the fake news, adding that "it is the handiwork of mischief makers who are hellbent to tarnish the good work of the state government with the intent to satisfy their paymasters."
Obichukwu said that the purpose of holding the theflag-offf ceremony of the 2024/ 2025 Scholarship scheme at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport by the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, was to enable the overseas scholarship students to board their flight immediately, insisting that "there is no way the flag off can take place in a different venue and it won't affect the students."
"The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport has since December recorded over 22 flight operations, and as I speak with you, we have continued to be on the air, and we can never stop. And so, those fake news purveyors who alleged that our airport was converted into an event centre are enemies of the state and they darken counsel without knowledge."
Obichukwu, however, urged the citizens and prominent stakeholders of the Southeastern region to come to the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport to take their flights, assuring them of adequate safety of their lives and properties.
Nigerian Pilot reports that Governor Francis Nwifuru, the Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, alongside other leaders of the state, bid farewell to the 204 overseas scholarship students while boarding their flights.
