Nsulu Airport Land Compensation: Nsulu Forum accuses Abia State of propaganda over airport land claims, demands court ruling and lawful compensation
Nsulu Airport Land Compensation has become a flashpoint in Abia State, as the Nsulu Stakeholders Forum (NSF) strongly criticised the government’s claim that around 3,500 landowners have already been compensated for land earmarked for the new airport project in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.
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The controversy erupted following statements by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, who, during a weekend visit to the project site, insisted that most landowners had been paid.
He noted that any outstanding payments were due to account discrepancies or the absence of completed indemnity certificates.
Ajagba, joined by key government officials including Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, reassured residents that Governor Alex Otti’s administration remained committed to fulfilling its compensation promises.
However, the NSF, led by its Convener Mazi Chigoram, has described the government’s claims as propaganda, insisting that proper compensation procedures have not been followed, and legal directives have been blatantly ignored.
According to Chigoram, the state government has failed to obey an order from the Abia State High Court in Okpuala Ngwa, which in December 2024 restrained any further activity on the land until the matter is fully heard.
He also referenced an ongoing case before a Federal High Court in Abuja, with judgement expected on 2 October.
The forum alleges that the airport construction commenced without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in violation of the EIA Act of 1992, and that the contract was awarded without undergoing a competitive bidding process, breaching the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, 2007.
“The government is mobilising party members and people from unrelated communities to create a false impression that compensation has been paid,” Chigoram said.
He questioned the basis for the figures quoted by the state government, asking:
“How much are they paying for the land, economic trees, burial grounds, ancestral shrines, and drinking water sources they’re destroying?”
NSF also claimed that the few individuals who have been paid received as little as ₦100,000, regardless of how many plots they owned—without proper valuation or transparency.
“People are being asked to sign indemnity forms without explanation. Is this how compensation is done in a democracy?” asked Chigoram.
He accused the Otti administration of rushing the airport project at the expense of due process, warning that the community will pursue the matter to the highest courts in the land.
Despite their resistance, the forum clarified that it does not oppose the airport project itself but insists that all legal and environmental protocols must be observed.
“We are not against the airport. But let the courts decide. Let the law be followed,” NSF added.
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With court rulings pending and tensions escalating, the situation in Nsulu underscores broader concerns about governance, land rights, and community engagement in major public infrastructure projects.
