"ALUU" LYNCH MOB ON RAMPAGE AGAIN: NDIGBO SPEAK OUT.
Stella's crime for which she must be burnt is that she dared to dismantle the mafia that have controlled Nigeria's aviation industry since the 70s. The same people who were comfortable while planes were literally falling from Nigerian skies under Prof Babalola Borishade, Femi Fani Kayode and other past ministers have found their voice
because Madam Stella has threatened their stranglehold on the aviation industry.
All manner of lies and half truths are being churned out daily since the initial allegation of ethnic cleansing against her was decisively dismissed with data obtained from the aviation ministry.
Even pilot mistakes leading to air disasters were used against her with mundane questions like "why didn't the Minister train the pilots". Haba Nigerians, how many times will they fool you and use you to fight their dirty stomach wars? Can't you see that "Aluu" beckons?
In case you are not familiar with details of the latest plot against Minister Oduah, let me help you.
Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, wife of former minister of works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, was appointed aviation minister in July 2011. She holds Bachelors and Masters Degree (in Accounting and Business Administration respectively) from the United States and worked with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for 9 years before she left to establish the Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Limited (SPG), an independent marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria in 1993. She was also actively involved in the Jonathan 2011 election campaigns.
Upon her resumption at the aviation ministry, she set about reforming the industry with a view to removing the cancer that has eaten deep into the ministry and contributed to aircrafts falling off Nigerian skies. From 1973 to date, Nigeria has suffered at least 11 major air disasters including Royal Jordanian Airline crash in Kano in 1973, Nigerian Airways (1978), Harka Air (1995), Nigerian Airways (1995), ADC (1996), EAS Airline (2002), Bellview (2005), Sosoliso (2005), Airforce Transport plane (2006), Dana (2012) and Associated Airline (2013) have been recorded in Nigeria. There were other "minor' crashes including the crash of a private plane at Obudu that killed 3 on-board in 2008. There was also the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) C-130 plane crash of 26 September 1992 that killed about 168 military officers, mostly of the rank of Major.
These incidents rained tears and sorrow on Nigerians from our skies and while it is true that air accidents occur regularly even in developed countries, Nigerians were worried about the frequency and demanded all round improvements in the aviation sector.
The mantle fell on Princess Adaeze Oduah to fashion out and execute sustainable improvements in the aviation sector. To do that she must necessarily change the way things are done in the ministry as it was obvious to informed Nigerians that the sector has been on the decline for long. A time was (1958-2003) when we had a flag carrier, Nigerian Airways, with as much as 30 aircrafts in their fleet. While mis-management, corruption, and overstaffing were identified as reasons behind the demise of Nigeria Airways, it is noteworthy that nobody went to jail because of Nigerian Airways. The same individuals who mismanaged the company were recycled back to the aviation system where they constituted themselves into a mafia that control what happens in the sector. They midwifed the failed Virgin Nigeria arrangement that forced Mr Richard Branson to later cry about the way business is done in Nigeria. At the same time most of the staff of the Nigerian Airways were smuggled back to the aviation system even when overstaffing was identified as one of the reasons for failure of Nigerian Airways. What nobody dare talk about is even the quality of the staff that "overstaffed" Nigerian Airways or how that quality continues to bestride the aviation ministry.
Equally challenging for Oduah must be the sundry agreements and concessions entered into by previous leaders of the aviation sector in collaboration with political leaders of Nigeria. Typical examples are the Bi-courtney, Pan Express and Maevis agreements which had clauses that ensure that the beneficiaries perpetually milk our aviation sector. Note carefully that all these agreements were floated by same people who grounded Nigerian airways. They literally "enter" every new aviation minister or head of an aviation parastatal by first corrupting them with gifts and praises on appointment as well as showing them one or two ways money can be made illegally. If the minister or agency head "cooperates" with them, he or she will have a peaceful long reign and retire in wealth. But if the new head tries to radically tilt the balance against them, they start with threats of media war, blackmail and ultimately threat to life. I listened to a friend describe how the Bi-Courtney agreement emerged and shook my head so hard that it almost fell off my shoulder. Even associations operating in the aviation sector like Association of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) are all neck deep in the rot in aviation. They also have firm control of the media with their enormous capacity to "induce and deduce"
If most Nigerians know what goes on in that sector, they will ask Stella Oduah to line everyone associated with the aviation ministry and shoot them at pointblank range. Fortunately or unfortunately, Nigeria is not China so she must necessarily walk a different path to bring change or choose to smile through her regime like one of her predecessors. But I will like Nigerians to quietly find out why Kema Chikwe and Stella Odua remain the best ministers of aviation and also the most hated among the members of aviation round table. Try and ask all the other ministers that lynch mobs were not arranged for specific changes they made to the industry. You will likely listen to one long speech without substance but you only need to check out their personal finances to know that aviation life was good to them.
Stella Oduah did not only review the anti-people agreements and concessions previously entered into by ministers before her, she started an aggressive facility expansion with zeal. (I typed this piece looking at the 90% completed new PH Airport terminal at Omagwa). Most of our airports are wearing new looks just within 2 years of "Stellanization" of aviation ministry. Makes you want to ask what other ministers have been doing since 40 years ago. Total radar coverage of Nigeria airspace was pursued with vigor and new modern whether measurement equipment installed at major airports as well as state of technology night vision equipments. Runways and terminal buildings were expanded, refurbished and modernized in addition to training and retraining of staff of aviation regulatory agencies like NCAA, FAAN and TRANCON now undertaken at regular and routine basis. Anti-Nigeria bilateral air service agreements (BASA) with foreign airlines were reviewed and equity ensured. She also established a state of the technology aviation laboratory at Abuja that ended the era of "sending blackbox to USA". (It is on record that within one week of the Agagu plane crash, the blackbox was analyzed at Abuja and initial reports including onboard conversations published). Things are looking up within 2 short years and nobody in the industry argues that Stella has not done better than others before her. Even the Presidency recently confirmed her top performance credentials.
Stella is fighting the system (corruption) armed only with presidential support and the system (corruption) is fighting back.
First they tried to whip up ethnic sentiments, a sure winning card in Nigeria, against her by alleging "ethnic cleansing" in the ministry. The ministry was forced to leak out the staff composition of the ministry by state of origin and it became clear that the supposedly "cleansed" ethnic group still constitute 64% of the staff strength of the ministry. That campaign abated and of course they also got a new DG of NCAA after their own heart, Captain Folayele Akinkuotu, to assuage their anger after the sack of DG Harold Demuren following the Dana plane crash.. The much maligned Acting DG left the scene brutalized by the mafians.
But the launching of international commercial flights to Enugu Airport with lavish celebration by Nigerians of Igbo origin must have rankled the aviation mafia seriously. They literally declared war on Oduah and the threat on her life emerged in the public space around that period.
No doubt, one of the implications of the the Enugu International Airport breakthrough after 53 years of Nigeria's independence is that Lagos Airport will likely lose traffic to Enugu with conservative estimates of about 30% passenger traffic loss. That can only mean less money for those who control every passenger check desk at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Even local flights traffic to Lagos is expected to be impacted as Enugu grows into a major International hub to Asia, South Africa, Israel, America and Europe. It is no secret within aviation circles that the bulk of passengers going to China, Malaysia, India, Israel, Taiwan, UAE and South Africa are traders from the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Those traders are also the easiest targets for extortionists at MM Airport because they are hardly aware of or conscious of their rights and so can easily be manipulated to part with valuable money and materials. If they now travel through Enugu you can naturally also expect faster pace of development within the South Eastern economic block. Tourism, transport business and other aviation support services will grow and bloom.
An economically buoyant south east should help Governor Fashola achieve legal deportation or "translocation" because most of the so called Igbo miscreants will voluntarily return home and may be visit Niger Bridge Beach as against being dumped at the Bridgehead at 3am in the morning. Is that not a win-win for all?
If one of Stella's sins is actualization of Enugu International Airport, it is therefore not difficult to guess who was responsible for ensuring that Enugu International Airport never took off before Minister Stella's regime. Also the coincidence of "Enugu is the unsafest state" report appearing in yesterday's premium times lend credence to suspicions of a coordinated onslaught against Stella and Enugu International Airport. Unless someone can explain to me convincingly how Enugu state declared by the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubaka, as the safest state in Nigeria suddenly changed call signs to the unsafest "according to research conducted". Even when 4 Nigerian states are under state of emergency because of insecurity? Odikwa Egwu O!
That the internationalization of Akanu Ibiam Airport was a major campaign demand of the leaders of the South East is also understandable. It is also understandable for political opposition elements to try to sabotage it or downplay the significance of President Jonathan fulfilling that promise. All na politics. The only problem is that the Minister who supervised it's realization underestimated the capacity of those opposed to it to unleash subterfuge and mayhem to whoever will break the almost age-old jinx. Talks of Israeli direct flights to Enugu with expected signing of BASA agreement with Israel tomorrow must also be too much for them to bear. To them, Stella must go quickly and be replaced with someone who will slow down the pace at which reforms are happening in the aviation sector before it gets to the "rich also cry" level. I do not want to go into why Kano International Airport remains essentially a Hajj airlift airport since it was designated as international airport. But you can guess that the same forces conspiring against Akanu Ibiam International Airport know a thing or two about that too. One day we will also find out why Lagos Ports are congested whereas PH and Calabar ports are grossly under-utilized.
Shortly after the crash of the Agagu plane, the cabal resurrected their propaganda machine with one former Aviation minister who is associated with drug use leading the charge online and writing articles and posts using his many pseudonyms. He promptly called for the Minister's sack for (sic) not "preventing the crash". Even when transcripts of the the cockpit conversations clearly recorded Captain Yakubu Abdulrahman arguing with the First officer who wanted take-off aborted because of computer warning on the screen against take off. Apparently the Captain prevailed and took the Associated Airline aircraft up and exactly what the First Officer predicted happened-engine freeze and crash resulting in loss of valuable lives.
I was initially surprised how such a tragedy can be "hanged" on the head of the minister, especially knowing that even in US pilot error induced plane crashes occur quite regularly with a recent pilot error suspected Asiana Airline crash at San Francisco Airport in July this year still fresh on my mind. The Boeing 777 aircraft was carrying more than 307 passengers from Seoul South Korea. Many more chartered aircrafts have crashed in US this year and over the years but I am yet to read of any orchestrated "Aviation (Transport Secretary in US) must go" campaign as a result of those incidents. But I now understand that this is still Nigeria, especially with men who have vested interest in the removal and possible humiliation of the incumbent occupant who has refused to allow them to "chop I chop".
With the publication of the transcript of the Agagu plane making nonsense of their campaign, they opted to go for "final solution". Knowing that there is no arse that will be scrutinized without seeing excreta, they commissioned rats to look for incriminating materials from anywhere within the aviation ministry. When one of their rats stumbled on purchase receipts for bullet proof cars in one of the aviation agencies, NCAA, they must have screamed "Eureka, we've got her". Yet there was a minor constraint; she didn't sign any of the documents and the purchase was not in her name but rather in the name of NCAA headed by DG Captain Folayele Akinkuotu who was appointed in March 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan as a replacement for amiable and hardworking Dr. Harold Demuren from Ogun State who served from 2005 to 2013.
Wala!
The media arm of the cabal found a wonderful and persuasive word; "forced". Pronto, a captivating title emerged from the popular leader of online junk news, Sahara Reporters: "How Aviation Minister Stella Oduah Forced Cash-Strapped Aviation Agency To Spend $1.6 Million On Two BMW Armored Cars For Her". And the story literally caught fire with all those who have any axe to grind with reformist Minister Oduah re publishing the story and even introducing new versions and twists, some bothering on the ridiculous.
Online Aluu mob gathered and cornered their next victim. Even near illiterates on aviation and public procurement matters became experts overnight with some swearing on their grandmother's graves that there was no budget for the procurement, due process was not followed and the price was inflated. It looked more like the Jesus trial before Pontius pilate where the crowd in unison screamed "crucify him, crucify him". Anyone who dared raise a voice in her defense or to ask questions was blackmailed with anti-corruption war or or allegation of tribalism. To boot, strong Igbo online and media voices have either retreated to ensure they are not tainted by the fuel of the Aluu mob or chosen to join the mob to cement their "nationalist" credentials. Some of them even attempted to blackmail those who took up the fight to stop the mob from setting Oduah on fire without due process. Others whose backgrounds are well known turned "anti-corruption" warriors overnight.
........TO BE CONTINUED................

nadico: U guys have been doing a wonderful job on the amazing transformation going on in enugu.my greatest joy in the works of the governor is his lack of interest in media propaganda,preferring his works to speak for him.I for one stay in enugu and work for the state government.for the airport terminal,I pass thru it on my way to work everyday.it has been fenced right round by the company,but I can attest that from the little I can see above the fence that work is going.their trucks are moving in and out hauling materials even that Early in the morning.I will try and see what pictures I can get.I will be posting pictures of some of our road projects that we are presently undertaking especially the rural ones. This is just so as to disprove the notion that all the roads been build in enugu are only concentrated in the urban. I will post with facts that we presently have more rural than urban road projects. Make I go buy camera battery first,I dey come

We are waiting please. Take as many pictures as possible.

Chima_Adeoye:
Bros, so because he said he is Ikwerre in an anonymous site, he is now truly an Ikwerre and you will address Ikwerre people via him?
There a Yoruba guy that calls himself "Ijaw Citizen" on NL, and how did i know he wasn't Ijaw but yoruba? I followed him in all his posts even in the fashion section and i quickly found out he chose that moniker in order to sneak unsuspecting blows occasionally at GEJ and say offensive things about Igbos to elicit a negative Igbo response towards Ijaws.
C'mon men, don't be so naive,these guys aren't half a smart as you. Don't make them laf at you behind their keyboard when they control your mind and provoke you to say horrible things about Ikwerre people.

Chima dear, I suspected he may not be Ikwere and that is why I stated in my comment that "a good chunk of Ikwere people are away of the truth and he belongs to a few Ikwere people deceiving themselves" which in real life there are few of them believing they are not Igbo. I appreciate your comment though.

Hope.At.Hand:
I've just finished reading pages 150 ans 151 and am really happy for you Enugu people and other igbos alike who hav contributed meaningfully with suggestions on how to better the lot of Enugu and that of their fellow igbos by extension.
I also congratulate other Nigerians who have allowed u guys interact freely without throwing tantraums at u guys..
Lastly, i want to suggest u igbos shud always care about your Enugu, Owerri, Onitsha etc..know your boundaries and keep off Port Harcourt which belongs to my Ikwerre tribe as we dont give two f.ucks about what happens in your cities.
In the spirit of Nigerias victory yestaday, i say Peace...Awt.

I really find it difficult to throw insults on people while discussing online and have never done that. Your comment however sounds so idiotic and unintelligent. My question to you is, you think PH is not an Igbo city? Ikwere is now a tribe? I am so sorry for you because this is exactly
thesame ideology that is driving Chibuike Amechi. Fortunately there are huge chunk of Ikweres that know the truth. You are just one of the few Ikwerres that are deceiving themselves.

Chima_Adeoye:

The best way the State Government can do to generate employment is to provide ENABLING ENVIRONMENT for factories to be set up.
Anyone expecting the government to employ him as a civil servant in this day and age should wake up.

Another Industrial Layout similar to Emene Industrial Layout should be opened along the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway. Then industrialists especially the Local (Nigerian) industrialists are wooed to set up a branch of their factories in the industrial zone.

With the resuscitation of the Enugu- Port Harcourt railway line, ground breaking for the much anticipated Enugu Free Trade Zone complex planned to sit strategically in a parcel of land located between the Enugu-Port Harcourt railway line on one side and the Enugu-PH Expressway on the other end should happen now. Many industrialists are interested in cheap labor for their export oriented goods. Enugu has abundance of cheap semi skilled and skilled labor that will easily make such factories to meet their profit margin. The easy access and proximity to the railway line will make it easy for them to transport their goods cheaply to Onne Port for export.

Conversely, the Enugu inland container port promised by Pres. Obasanjo on his visit to Enugu in 2005 should be taken up with the Federal Government to be sited close to the Enugu Free trade zone along the Enugu-PH railway line.The Kano and Kaduna inland dry ports have become functional while that of Enugu is yet to be even awarded. Apart from assisting the industrialists in the zone to containerize their products for export, Nnewi and Onitsha based industrialists can also use the inland dry port to import their goods.

Agriculture and coal mining for independent power plants remain the best options for creating employment. Enugu have abundance of Cashews and favorable rice production. Therefore, a small fruit juice processing factory and cashew packaging factory will find the Shoprite Enugu stores willing customers for their products.Some of the Cashews can also be exported vis cargo at the AIIA. Our people must however learn how to roast cashew without burning it into charcoal. The roasting of cashew nuts must be of international standard to get proper visual appeal and a good price paid for the cashew nuts.

Of course, the technical partners for the coal fired IPP must expedite action on the electricity plant so that from mining to processing and feeding the coal into the power plants can provide employment for the teeming youths of not just Enugu, but Nigeria, in other to make Enugu a truly melting pot of Nigeria.

The blue print you laid out is true and nobody is disputing the fact that job creation is by the private sector. However I am from Enugu, grew up in Enugu and my plan above is specifically for the 15billion the governor is wasting in building the secretariat. The money could have been better used in creating jobs in "PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE INVESTORS (by setting up small scale industries)" and the impact would be immediate as in this year next year. I know the level of poverty and unemployment in the state. No body is asking the government to employ him or her.
Enugu state government must be directly involved in establishing these industries on partnership basis with private investors. The government should be proactive about it and not passive since this has a direct bearing on the lives of the people of Enugu. I remember growing up in Enugu, there use to be cooperative societies in most parts of the state and they secured loans from the government to create employment opportunities for themselves and people around them.

clun: No doubt about the very goof works the governor is doing. Lets now talk about UNEMPLOYMENT. This is really eating the state deep. The governor should please do something about it.

My dear you just brought up a topic that has been burning in my heart for a long time. I commented severally on it but it seemed like my Enugu people care less about the level of unemployment in Enugu state. Last year when the Chime administration conceived and awarded 14.5billion contract for state secretariat. I was almost crying. I felt so bad because although secretariat is good, it is one of the least items the government should pursue in my own judgement, since Enugu had secretariate. Enugu youths are hurting a lot because of lack of job. There are thousands of Enugu graduates riding okada and hawking on the streets of Lagos, Abuja, PH, Onitsha, Aba and even in Enugu(keke). I just read that Chime just awarded a contract of almost 400million for road marking in Enugu. I was like what is the job of the staff of the state ministry of works and transport. People are getting paid every month and still he is awarding such a contract. What is the staff of these ministries doing. Let us put this in full perspective. 14.5billion for secretariat and 400million for road marking. If this 15billion is used in partnership with private firms and cooperative societies/cooperate organization to set up small scale industries in each of the 15 LGA of Enugu (minus Enugu south and north;one billion per LGA). The human developmental effect will be monumental and would certainly rub-off on the economy including the IGR of Enugu state. Projects like state secretariat would follow in such a buoyant economy. Chime has done well in road construction in the state and I applaud him for that but he has absolutely performed abysmally poor in human development especially the youth of Enugu. 1 billion may sound too small for such project per LGA but I know it would create lots of jobs in Enugu state LGAs. Enugu state should not be about Enugu city. I love Chime but my gut tells me that state secretariat project was just an avenue fro him to make his own billions as I know that the project cannot be more than 8-10billion. Too bad for our people. Enugu people should wake up and stop being docile.

ENUGU …TAKE A SECOND LOOK

On Friday the second of August I sat alone in my living room watching the Tonight Show by Jay Leno. My phone rang, and I looked, it was my daughter Ashley calling from the United States.

"How are you daddy?" She asked excitedly.
"I'm alright darling."

"Surprise, you are still up this late."

"Yeah, I wanted to catch up on Jay's monologue on the Tonight Show before I go to bed."

In the middle of our conversation my daughter told me that she was planning to see "Great Gatsby" that evening, a movie that was just released a few days earlier. I told her that I remember the story, that I had read the novel by F. Scot Fitzgerald and seen a much earlier version of the movie in New York some twenty years ago. After the conversation I immediately checked on my phone the website of Genesis Deluxe Cinema operating at the Polo Park Shoprite mall here in Enugu. It turned out that the movie was a worldwide release, and also showing here in Enugu.

The next day I went to the mall, bought my ticket, popcorn and soda, and enjoyed the movie. When I left the cinema it was already late, about 9:45PM, and it was drizzling. As I drove out from Polo Park Mall through the well-lit dualized Abakaliki Road that led to Ogui junction, Chime Avenue junction, and ultimately into Bisala Road that leads to the Independence Layout section of town. I rarely go out at night, even when I go to the movies I try to catch an early showing in order to be home by nine o'clock. On that Saturday night, I noticed how clean and well-lit these vast networks of well-constructed roads in Enugu really are. I was so enchanted that I decided to drive around town that night and see more. I was astonished at how much this quiet sleepy Coal City has suddenly developed into a modern metropolis.

I drove through the GRA to Trans Ekulu, from Abakpa to New Heaven, then to Coal Camp. From there I drove to Achara Layout, then to Uwani, and Ogui and Asata before returning to Independence Layout. One thing I noticed is that most of the major roads were all dualized and well-lit. Even the bus stops were all ultra modern, with solar powered lights that glows through the night. On my way back, somewhere around Presidential Road, it was still drizzling, and I noticed a police car parked around the WAEC junction, its roof lights flickering in their many bright colors, and two police officers in their trench coats standing next to the car, examining a motorist's document. For a split second I thought I was somewhere in Amsterdam, or London. I had to remind myself that I was actually still here in Enugu.

It was not as if all these happened overnight, not quite, I had witnessed most of these transformations as they came, but this singular experience has made me to take stock in the city where I now call home. I must confess that I'm rather pleasantly surprised at how much Enugu has changed for the better. Though just one of the five state capitals in the Southeast, Enugu has for long been regarded as the headquarters of Igbo land. Perhaps this was as a result of its role as the former capital of the Eastern region. Whatever the reason, most Igbo heavyweights still make their homes here even if they are based in Abuja or Lagos. Nine out of ten of all Igbo big men, from Ekwueme to Ojukwu, from Iwuanyanwu to Arthur Eze, from Soludo to Ekweremadu and so forth all have a home here.

I have often wondered why they feel compelled to own a home here even when they are now practically spending most of their times in Abuja or Lagos. Some come down for occasional weekends, others keep their families here and visit every weekend. And there is yet another class of Igbos who make Enugu their permanent home, and only travel from here to Abuja for contracts and Lagos for business. Lately, there is a new awakening that seems to be making this otherwise quiet city home for many businesses. The Shoprite Mall, the largest of its kind in Nigeria, has now opened at Polo Park for more than two years. A monorail project that is supposed to link people from the airport, through town and beyond had since been awarded to a Canadian company. But I understand that sourcing funding for the project remains a handicap. And in the last month, the Enugu international airport is finally up and running with Ethiopian Airline as the first to start operations with Emirates and others to follow.

The city is very clean and the Inspector General of Police said that Enugu has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria according to their records. I don't want to give you any false impression; there are still some kidnappings around town though much smaller when compared to the neighboring Anambra State. Homes are very affordable; you can still rent a duplex (single family house) in an affluent part of town for less than a quarter of what it would cost you to rent a flat in a comparable neighborhood in Abuja or Lagos. Sometime ago, out of curiosity I put a high-end property in the market just to know what I could get. About eight thousand square meters in the best part of town and probably the best constructed home anywhere in the southeast. The best offer I got was half a billion naira. I quickly took it off the market. Similar properties in Ikoyi or Maitama would easily go for upwards of two billion naira. Ironically I know a few Igbo boys who would rather buy a luxury flat in Banana Island with more than half a billion naira than own a solid home in Enugu. The point I'm trying to make here is that properties are comparatively very cheap though they are now creeping up gradually.

For the record, I am not from Enugu State in case you think I'm promoting my hometown. My home town of Awka, also a capital, has become more commercialized, rather like Onitsha or Nnewi. Governor Sullivan Chime has done an incredible job of transforming Enugu even though the man is not even from this town. I wish that Peter Obi and all his predecessors have made an attempt at developing Awka. Each time I visit my hometown I'm busy avoiding potholes and kidnappers, and can't wait to return to Enugu. My beautiful home in Awka is now largely abandoned as there is no expectation that tranquility or security let alone good roads will come anytime soon. It is sad indeed, especially given that Enugu state gets a whole lot less revenue than Anambra state. Enugu remains unique in its features and civilization, far greater than any other Igbo town, and in my opinion represents a little bit of sanity in an otherwise crazy world of Nigeria.

Michael Nnebe is a former Wall Street Investment Banker and the Author of several novels, including; Every Dream Has A Price, Riverside Park, Blood Covenant, Gloomy Shadows, Passing wishes, Prime Suspect, and others.

Chima_Adeoye: Well, the info i got from a family member who traveled with the Ethiopian airline last week from Mumbai India was that when they landed in Addis Ababa and waiting for their flight, there were low passengers both for the Lagos, Abuja and Enugu route. So they were given option to fly in 2 days to Enugu or join the Enugu and Lagos passengers into one flight to Lagos to fill it up. All the Enugu passengers were then put on the Lagos flight rather than spend 2 days at the airport.

AIIA needs only 2 reliable foreign airlines for now.The Ethiopian airline is highly disorganized and annoyingly expensive to be entrusted with the far-east route. The authorities need a reliable airline like the Turkish or Emirate airline to ply that far-east route and KLM/thAir France or Lufthansa to ply the Europe/ North America western route.

You analysis of Ethiopian airlines is very very unfortunate. I have never used the airlines, but I do not have to concur with what you said.
First, Enugu route is a brand new route and Nigerian government does not lobby airlines to ply any route. Why didn't they (big airlines) come first. Knowing fully well that it will take some extra-work for any airline to break even with all the initial associated business risks as this is an unfamiliar territory. Ethiopian took the bold step and they are gradually making the route attractive and viable
Second, be reminded that the popular airlines you are thinking are secretly bribing and lobbying to stop AIIA. Concentrating everything in Lagos and Abuja makes there business more assured and very viable at the detriment of south-easterners. It is for thesame reason that ARIK basically is the only local airline that is on constant scheduled flight to Enugu making local airfare so expensive that middle income Nigerians rarely fly. They (local airlines) shared(kind of unwritten/unholy alliance) airports in Nigeria among themselves thus driving away competition.
Finally my dear let us all support Ethiopian airlines by all means to succeed because those western/middle-east airlines you are thinking will not come to Enugu at-least for now. They all prefer the status quo ie Lagos and Abuja as the only viable international airports in Nigeria because there business is better and assured. Enugu airport surely will eventually develop to the point when they will come, and I plead that we Africans patronize our own. Pay them(Ethiopian) back for making AIIA a dream come true.

ubomez2@yahoo.c:
Kostadinis no need to be nervous!!! On Friday the 30th August the flight arrived from Addis Ababa and did not depart Enugu until the next day being Saturday the 31st August. The next scheduled flight was then the 2nd of September on Monday, followed by Wednesday(4th) and Friday(6th) which slept in Enugu to depart in the next 20 minutes to Addis Ababa. So as you can see it has gone full circle. Do not panic all is well.Abuja has five times weekly, while Lagos is daily. So Enugu is the baby of the family!!!!! enjoy

I am not sure you are right. Look at the log for Ethiopian departing Enugu since 24th August, 30th and 31st are included with both the time and duration of the flight.


ACTIVITY LOG

07-Sep-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:40PM WAT 07:50PM EAT Scheduled
04-Sep-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:47PM WAT 08:37PM EAT 4:50
02-Sep-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:36PM WAT 08:33PM EAT 4:57
31-Aug-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:45PM WAT 08:39PM EAT 4:54
30-Aug-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:40PM WAT 08:30PM EAT 4:50
28-Aug-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:52PM WAT 08:51PM EAT 4:59
26-Aug-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 01:51PM WAT 08:42PM EAT 4:51
24-Aug-2013 B738 Akanu Ibiam Int'l (DNEN / ENU) Bole Int'l (HAAB / ADD) 02:32PM WAT 09:25PM EAT 4:53
1998 - 2013 Want a full history search for ETH930 dating back to 1998? Buy now. Get it within one hour.

More arrival and departure photos pls.

CFCfan: @ happyjoe: Nice analysis there. I agree that direct flights to the US and the UK would be seasonal at best (ie July-August/December-January)

Hey guys I do not agree that US and Europe will be seasonal. Enugu international airport is strategically located. Do we appreciate that this is the only international airport that offers the best traveling option for travelers from Edo state all the way to Bamenda in Cameron, from Calabar/Akwa-ibom all the way to Markudi in Benue state. I believe that market forces would ultimately decide the viability of the airport but at this early stage, the government(state and federal) has a big role to play in marketing this airport.

@Happyjoe: Market forces is prime. I believe one major airline from Europe or the US would join Enugu route in less than a yr from now. The bulk of Igbos and other Easterners in Europe and the US would prefer direct link with Enugu than going through Lagos. I believe either Air France, Delta or BA will join Enugu route soon. I guess it would likely be Air France b/c they already operate Europe-PH route and may likely share the route b/w Enugu and P/H.

I really do not understand ENUGU state government. What effort are they making to market the Enugu International Airport knowing fully well that other regions, i.e. West and North do not want to see the Enugu International Airport come to fruition. No adverts, no commercial nothing; not even a single media house has carried this August date for the first international flight from Enugu. Only mushroom social websites have been reporting the news. Enugu state gov should wake up and be part of the world. Lure international airlines to Enugu by giving some incentives in form of tax rebate, free hotel accommodation to the airline crew for a period of time etc. That would be an investment for Enugu people. The dividends certainly would be unquantifiable when the airport is fully functional.

Hey Guys, Check-out Ethiopian Airlines Ticket to Asia via Addis-Ababa from Enugu selling like hotcake. Check Ethiopian Airline website(http://www.flyethiopian.com/en/default.aspx) and book now!!!!!

Enugu Airport Interior

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You guys are funny. Allow the airport pictures to upload. Do not block them.

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Enugu international airport interior - Update