Some landowners have threatened to halt business activities at the Enugu International Airport if the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria fails to pay them compensation within seven days for acquiring their land.

The threat is coming three days after international flight operations commenced at the airport on Saturday.The landowners said on Monday that they were promised compensation when the land was acquired in 2009 by the Federal Government for the expansion and remodelling of the airport to international status.They said since then, they had yet to receive any form of compensation from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.According to them, about 11 of the landowners who started the fight for compensation have died, yet FAAN has not even called them to a meeting.

One of the landowners, Mr. Joseph Chioke, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring that an airport of international standard was put in place in the South-East, but said it was regrettable that even after the government had urged the court to give the parties time to settle out of court, nothing had so far been done.He said, "Most of us are still very worried and our health is fast deteriorating because we have not had money to buy another land equivalent to the one we lost to the expansion and upgrade of the airport to international standard."We need the compensation so that we can at least build new houses, no matter how small, instead of squatting in other people's houses. Some of us have even returned to being tenants, while our money hangs.

"Chioke said since the last court sitting in July 2013, the government had been promising to pay them off, but they had yet to see any sign of that happening.He said, "We have, therefore, agreed among ourselves to carry out peaceful demonstrations at the airport and halt businesses at the airport from Monday, next week if this injustice being meted out to us continues.

"The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said, "We are not aware of such complaints. Government will not allow anyone to shut the airport. If there are issues, they will be channelled to the appropriate quarters and addressed."

Enemies of progress are at it again. Newly commissioned international airport that took decades to realize, now their greed is in their throat and they are issuing ultimatum to disrupt operations at the airport.

If you acquire someone's land, you must pay! Dem dey buy land on credit? FG should pay them and save themselves of the embarassment.

Dudu_Negro:

I thought you guys want FG to invest and bring infrastructures to SE? Whats your problem? Now everytime you talk about Lagos being built up by FG remember that multitude families ended up with no compensantion for the land.

How many times do you hear Yoruba whose lands were converted to runways in MMIA talking about disrupting operations because they were not compensated?

Please dont turn your thread to an ethnic issue because i know thats where you are heading to.If you want a constructive argument, drop your ethnic sentiments.

Also modify your topic because Enugu land belongs to ndi igbo. You must not tell us it's igbo land owners . we already know that..

Good Morning Nigerians

I'm sooooooo surprised the OP has not committed suicide yet. It must be really heart wrenching to see Enugu taking off so fast.Couple of years ago the OP and his cronies here laughing and making fun of the old Enugu departure sign.

Oh well it's just a matter of time before Enugu becomes a major hub in West Africa then Lagos will crumble, I'm just so happy next year when we travel home we won't be going through that filth called Lagos.

The govt should pay them now, if someone worked all is life to acquire a land and build a house on it the govt have no justification whatsoever to take the land from them without compensation.

Dudu_Negro:

There is nothing wrong with discussing ethnicity, if its in NL sooner or later it will gravitate to that anyway. So I intend to express the truth, not sentiments and ethicity is a truth!

Enugu land belong to Nigerians. The airport in question also belong to Nigerians, not ndigbo.. It is without doubt situated in a land that is culturally Igbo. Therefore i have no obligation to suit the topic or discussion to Igbo, it is open to all Nigerians.

The discussion on Lagos has opened a new gate for assault in areas where we would never have thought to go before and never cared for really but today there is no more "no go areas" my sister. All lands belong to Nigerians. Right?

You're just making the thread look like Igbos are not grateful for the remodeling of the Airport. If there's an agreement on acquiring the land, why should the FG not pay for the land?

Dudu_Negro:

How much do you want to bet, MASSOB is going to set a tout-branch there soon to collect Biafra tax like they do at Onitsha head bridge.

I knew you were gonna say this! Grow up NEGRO! Grow up! smh...

unfollows thread..

Dudu_Negro:

How much do you want to bet, MASSOB is going to set a tout-branch there soon to collect Biafra tax like they do at Onitsha head bridge.

Thank God we are finally getting the separation we want. By the time Lekki International open we will have a truly international standard airport and will not have to worry about its degradation and abuse.

I'm also looking forward to its construction. However, it will still be the same FG Immigration and Customs officials that would be deployed to the international wing.

berem: You're just making the thread look like Igbos are not grateful for the remodeling of the Airport. If there's an agreement on acquiring the land, why should the FG not pay for the land?

Are these landowners grateful, where is their gratitude?

Many Yorubas lost lands and recovery to FG in Lagos. Next time you want to talk about FG developed Lagos reflect on the sacrifice of the landowners and be just.

berem: You're just making the thread look like Igbos are not grateful for the remodeling of the Airport. If there's an agreement on acquiring the land, why should the FG not pay for the land?

berem,
we are grateful to FG, but those guys issuing ultimatum makes it look like we are not grateful. I am behind the landowners demanding for their compensation but I am against them giving FG a ultimatum...

What happens after the ultimatum...? Start disrupting flight operations by doing rallies on the runways ? ....

berem: I knew you were gonna say this! Grow up NEGRO! Grow up! smh...

unfollows thread..

I did not open this thread for you berem.

See ya...

As long as there is an agreement binding them in place . . . They are free to ask for their compensation.

eagle,eye:

berem,
we are grateful to FG, but those guys issuing ultimatum makes it look like we are not grateful. I am behind the landowners demanding for their compensation but I am against them giving FG a ultimatum...

Na today? ultimatum na normal thing na! If na lie make you ask Orji Uzo Kalu.

Dudu_Negro:

I did not open this thread for you berem.

See ya...

gerrout joor! Am not commenting because of you. infact am no longer unfollowing the thread. nonsense!!

Dudu_Negro:

Exactly! There are ways to go about getting their recovery without a threat. It paints an ugly picture of Igbo and somebody need to coach them on civic order.

So did you post this thread because of the ultimatum given to FG or because they are asking for compensation? where do you stand?

All hail punch newspapers the propagator of negatives and false news, this piece of propaganda was not carried by any major newspaper but a road side paper that sells only false negative news, this is about the only major news from punch on enugu international airport

Dudu_Negro: Enemies of progress are at it again. Newly commissioned international airport that took decades to realize, now their greed is in their throat and they are issuing ultimatum to disrupt operations at the airport. I am yet to witness any Ibo ultimatum coming true, so this will not be different...a typical Ibo noise making to draw attention.

dude
Nobody will die for Nigeria
in as much as we all want development it shouldn't be at the expense of probably our only piece of land

Or are you saying they should not be compensated?

Ur agitations are right. Bt u ar wrong to talk of shutting d fledging airport business. Must we alwyz seek attention? U already hav a suit in court; go bak & tell d court dat setlement has failed; den continue d case. We shud not sabotage our own.