The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the opening of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, in the Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
In a letter signed by the Director-General of the Agency, Captain Musa Nuhu and addressed to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, NCAA said flight operations could commence in the airport from December 2.
He noted that the approval was issued following the security clearance from the relevant security agencies.
Nuhu stated that a negative security clearance was why the authority had declined approval for the opening of the airport on October 30, when the state government had scheduled the commissioning.
According to him, in the interim, Category B aircraft were permitted to land and take off from the airport from sunrise to sunset every day, adding that when outstanding requirements were met, all restrictions would be removed.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifejiofor, commended the governor, whom he said never relented to ensure that the airport becomes operational ahead of Christmas celebrations.
With the NCAA clearance, airlines already approved by the relevant authorities to operate at the Anambra airport, such as Airpeace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria and others are expected to start scheduling flights into and out of the airport immediately.
