Ebonyi Govt. Berates Fake News Purveyors For Alleging That Airport Is Converted Into Event Centre

By Chijioke Njoku, Abakaliki

Ebonyi state government at the weekend fumed and lambasted fake news purveyors for alleging that the Chuba Okadigbo international airport located at Ezza South LGA, Onueke, was converted into an event centre.

The state government emphasized that the airport was never used as an event centre, rather it was for the lifting of over 204 overseas scholarship students who boarded their aircraft and left to other countries.

Ebonyi state government through the commissioner for Aviation and transport technology Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu warned sternly the fake news paddlers in the state to desist from saying that the Chuba Okadigbo international airport was converted into an event centre.

Recall that the Chuba Okadigbo international airport had since one month recorded over 22 flights operation from Ebonyi to Abuja and Ebonyi to Lagos Nigeria and vis-a-visa and still counting.

Obichukwu who reacted to a fake news by some critics circulating on the social media platforms and some dubious unidentified online in the state, described the allegation of converting the airport into an event centre as baseless, unfounded and falsehoods.

She called on the citizens of the state, foreign and national agencies partnering 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 with the intent to satisfy their pay masters.

Obichukwu emphasized that the purpose of holding the flag off ceremony of the 2024/ 2025 Scholarship scheme at the Chuba Okadigbo international airport by the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, was to enable the oversea 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.

She said: “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 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 SouthEast region to come to the Chuba Okadigbo’s airport to take their flights, assuring them of adequate safety of their lives and properties.

The Nations News Nigeria further reported that the governor, Francis Nwifuru, the commissioner for Aviation and transport technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu alongside other leaders of the state bid farewell to the 204 Oversea scholarship students while boarding their flights.

“At the Airport, the oversea scholarship students boarded planes and left to various countries and governor, Francis Nwifuru being a father, decided to host them and pray for them before leaving Nigeria. And as a humble Governor, he decided to meet them at the airport instead of them coming to his office in Government House. That is a sign of humility and I must commend him” she stressed.