Abakaliki, Nigeria — The Labour Party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Comrade Chief Splendour Oko Eze, has criticised the Ebonyi State International Airport, also known as the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, describing the project as a poor use of public resources and calling for greater accountability over its funding and operations.
In a statement released on Thursday, Oko Eze alleged that more than ₦63.3 billion in public funds has been committed to the airport through its construction and subsequent rehabilitation, yet, according to him, the facility has generated little or no meaningful internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state.
The Labour Party candidate claimed that the administration of former Governor David Umahi expended about ₦36 billion on the airport’s construction, alongside a ₦10 billion Federal Government grant during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He further alleged that the current administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru spent an additional ₦17.3 billion on runway rehabilitation and another ₦2 billion on repairs to the airport’s leaking roof.
Oko Eze questioned the economic viability of the airport, alleging that only a handful of commercial flights have operated from the facility since it was commissioned in 2023. He argued that the funds would have yielded greater economic benefits if invested in agriculture, education, healthcare, industrialisation and other sectors capable of creating jobs and boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.
The governorship hopeful also raised questions over the reported procurement of three aircraft announced by the Ebonyi State Government in January 2026. He claimed that residents were yet to see the aircraft and called on the government to disclose details of the procurement process, including the contractor, contract value and payment status.
According to Oko Eze, Ebonyi residents deserve transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, particularly on projects financed with taxpayers’ money.
The Ebonyi State Government has not publicly responded to the latest allegations. The claims made by the Labour Party candidate are his views and have not been independently verified.
The statement has generated discussion on social media, with supporters and critics offering differing opinions on the airport’s economic impact and the state’s infrastructure priorities.
