Anambra Airport, the Play, the game and the blame by POg.
Like me or hate me, I call the game as it plays out, especially when it has to do with interest of the masses because, Posterity will always ask us to render account.
Anambra Airport has been bounced here and there, I wasn't hifiving because I wanted the best, I throw all it takes to keep them motivated.
Then there was a Test flight, which Originated from ASABA, not Lagos as it wasn't on the Testing stage on NAAC ladder, this I got from a seasoned Technocrat in reaction to my piece about the Political part of the AIRPORT, it said and I provide..
"My own bros Odera! Why do we Igbos always play unnecessary politics with human life? We all know this airport is still not fully calibrated for commercial flights.
2. On day of initial text flight y'all heard Allen Onyema say Air Peace flew manually to land in Umueri and at very low, unsafe attitude. No aviation insurer will underwrite risk into this airport yet.
3. Facts is, the inaugural flight came in from Asaba, not Lagos bcos Anambra airport was not yet on their platform system
4. I've worked on Accident Investigations as Chairman, Disaster Management in House of Reps. I know the risk of flying 'blind' into airports
5. Only NCAA, not Office of NSA, can certify airports to receive flights. NCAA has a checklist which has been handed over to ANSG. Nobody wants to make reference to it but we indulge in ceaseless social media propaganda
6. Commissioning this airport today or tomorrow will NOT confer any advantage on any party in 6th. November election. Let us respect human life. But Gov. Willie Obiano can always fly blind wirh his chartered or private jet into the airport if he choses to, but at no responsibility to NCAA or his insurers.
Better we commission this beautiful airport when it's ready please!"...end of quote.
Then I contacted the Creme of the Kitchen Cabinet of Anambra Governor and I was assured that an Approval was obtained yesterday, which Governor came back with authorization letter from Abuja which lubricated the wheels of the incoming Flight landing and commissioning of the Airport.
I called and spoke to a Political Juggernaut who has been around Political Corridors and have served at many levels of many Government, I ask his interpretation of the AIRPORT commissioning and the whispers of dissent, he schooled me real good.. He said that Airport can't be commissioned by the state but by either President or his surrogate and Aviation Minister, but to get to the level FAAC must have come for inspection to Okay the Airport, announce same Safe and sound for Human and Crafts, but none has been done and you should know that once you finish building Airport, you hand same over to Federal Government, both the workers from AVIATION HANDLING to AIRPORT AUTHORITY workers are solely the responsibility of the FEDS.
He said it is the responsibility of Aviation Minister to schedule commissioning of any Airport and not of the Governor or state Government.
In my mind, I think it was parties that are trying to kill the joy, until I spoke to a Veteran Journalist who spank some sense into me, when he asked me "Odera you are a Force to reckon with in ANAMBARA affairs, so when did FAAC went for inspection of the Airport as whenever such will be carried out, they must invite Journalists and reports will be available everywhere, So Mazi where you invited or heard of such or read such report?.
I kept quiet because he got me Cold, he ask me,Did FAAC okayed the Commercial flight that was supposed to flew into ANAMBARA today the 30th of October 2021?.
I said, but they did not put out a denial and he laughed before saying, they won't issue one unless they were named as partners or dragged into it or you ask them as a Reporter, they don't go about searching for what doesn't concern them.
Now after series of investigation, I realized that it wasn't APC or PDP that stopped the Flights nor commissioning, it was the avoidance of Due process and the Governor was in a hurry to mark his name in Gold, which brings to fore the legend of "ewelu gbanu gbanu, gwujie Ji, esekpulu ani, gwuputaya".
" Read this super analysis by a reputable Pilot (International Pilot) about Anambra Airpor..
I was wondering whether airport has become just any commercial facility that can be opened and operated without regulatory approvals. And wondered whether the approvals were done in secret, because I know these things take time to do and there is a limit to which you can settle officials to allow you the political shows you wish to do (like the test running show they did)
But then I know all the rush has always been a political stunt to prove a point.
There is a special aircraft used in calibrating navigational and landing equipments, Nigeria usually engage the services of another country's test planes on till recently they got theirs. The plane is a special one, but was surprised they used normal commercial planes to say they were test running Anambra airport. (you can only use commercial plane after everything is working and you now want to test with passenger experience of the entire commercial process not technical tests in an airport still undergoing construction)
The regulators also need to come certify a lot of things and categorise the airport, give it a status. They will check a lot of things from security preparedness (perimeter, scanners, personnel, etc) then equipments available (ILS, radar, tower, etc) structures in place (runway, taxi way, apron, main terminal, fire bay, etc) then licensed and adequate personnel including ground staff. Even qualified airport management team are regulated.
They just want to run the airport like a motorpark. The regulators NCAA has a limit to which they can grant waivers for the government of Anambra state to use that place for political stunts. And I guess they've reached their limits.
Every country has a mapping system, updated and available not just for the country but worldwide, after approval, Anambra airport will be available for pilots worldwide for navigational and operational purposes. The airport details will be updated on Nigerian AIP etc."end
Then Air Peace sent me this Sms to confirm that UMUERI is no Fly compliance
" Dear Esteemed Passenger, We apologize for the cancellation of your flight which is DUE NON CLEARANCE INTO ANAMBRA AERODROME. Your flight 7378, Lagos to Anambra for today 30th October 2021, will NO LONGER OPERATE. Air Peace regrets this unforeseen cancellation but remains absolutely focused on passenger safety as well as on-time departures. For rescheduling or rerouting, please call 0700-35924-773223 or E-mail: callcenter flyairpeace.com. Thank you for choosing Air Peace.".
The fact is... FAAC and her sisters are the ones behind the Marginal tactics, it is not that of PDP, APC or YPP..
FAAC and her sisters insisted that there are things that are not ready at the Airport including RESTAURANT, CAFE, AIRLINE DESKS and other trifle things, but I can say that even ASABA AIRPORT was on makeshift arrangement when she started hosting flights, but hence this is ANAMBRA the heart and Soul of the Nation, where they dread the Greatness and supremacy of Ndigbo, they felt the need to punish Ndigbo, so they started a labyrithal format that will frustrate Ndigbo and the Airport, plus the fact that STATES around ANAMBARA, which use to be the Host of flights with majority of ANAMBARA passengers, but with the function of UMUERI, other neighboring Ports will starve badly and that won't augue well, so the problem is mutiheaded.
They want us to start fusing and fighting, because United we get things done.
Let Ndi Anambra unite for once and demand the approval of the Airport even without Commissioning, if other Airports with less edifice can be granted right of Flight, ours is over qualified as it is.
Let them not force us to start pummeling one another on a game they created just to tear us