Friday April 29, 2021, was Governor Willie Obiano’s day of glory as first flights landed at the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri.
While the first, a Boeing 737 touched down at exactly 2:15 pm, the second one, an Embraer 145, landed at 2:44 pm on point two four, while the third plane which is a private aircraft landed at 3:30 pm.
Interestingly, the two passenger aircrafts were from Air Peace airlines, owned and operated by Anambra-born Chief Allen Onyema, who to date, operates the only Nigerian indigenous international air carrier. Another first, is that the pilot who landed the first commercial flight, Ms Nwando Okpalaeke, is from Anambra State!
The new Anambra airport which is by far the newest in the country, has two hundred meters by three hundred meters apron, sixty meter width, three point seven kilometer runway with one kilometer RESA each at both ends of the runway, a thirty four point meter control tower, the tallest in Nigeria, terminal building, car park for up to seven hundred and fifty cars, two taxi ways, safety zones, diversion channel, water station, fire station, fire station emergency road, emergency operation centre, power House, plus other security features.
So far, the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, boasts of the best and longest runway, control tower, and lightning system in Africa.
