Imo State House of Assembly has commended Governor Hope Uzodinma for the installation of night landing facilities at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri.
For more than 30 years, the airport built by the collective financial effort of the Imo people has operated without a night landing facility.
BusinessDay gathered that on May 25, 2024, the first aircraft from Abuja to land under the circumstance touched down at exactly 7.15pm at the airport with the newly installed night landing facilities illuminating the surroundings and attracting the attention of people from the host communities of Umuohiagu and Obiangwu in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.
After about 40 minutes, the same plane that brought passengers from Abuja taxied off with passengers on board to Lagos, a development that consummated the functionality of the night landing facilities at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.
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As a result of the development, the members of the Imo State House of Assembly commended the governor, saying that he initiated the facilities as part of his administration’s enhanced economic agenda to position Imo State as an economic hub for regional, national and indeed, international connectivity.
In a commendation letter to the governor through Chinelo Emeghara, the Clerk of the Imo State House of Assembly, said it takes a visionary leader like Governor Uzodinma to initiate such a project, the economic benefits of which to the state cannot be overemphasised.
Obinna Egu, member representing Ngor/Okpala State Constituency, who hails from Umuohagu , one of the host communities, had moved a motion to commend the governor on the floor of the chamber.
Egu urged his colleagues to support his motion and got their support.
Part of the motion reads: “In the last four years, Imo State has witnessed massive transformation, especially, in the areas of infrastructural development, human capital development, improved health services, ease of doing businesses, improved welfare packages for civil servants and retirees , etc, courtesy of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s visionary leadership and prudence in managing men and resources.”
The motion was seconded by the Chief Whip and member representing Oru-East State Constituency, Chigozie Nwaneri, and co-sponsored by 15 lawmakers, including, Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Kanayo Onyemaechi, Henry Agbasonu, Hon Innocent Ikpamezie, Sam Osuji, Bernard Ozoemelam and Sam Otuibe.
Others include Clinton Amadi, Gilbert Nwosu, Francis Osuoha, Uche Agabige, Dominic Ezerioha, Johnson Duru and Kennedy Ibeh.
In their different submissions, the lawmakers said that Governor Uzodinma might not know what he has done with the installation of the night landing facilities, revealing that kidnapping, armed robbery, and accidents that occur in the quest of Imo citizens rushing to Port Harcourt to go board flight in the face of emergency appointments had come to an abrupt end.
