Federal Lawmaker Decries FAAN’s Unfair Treatment To Communities

A Federal Lawmaker
representing Ikwerre/Emolua Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Andrew Uchendu, has decried the attitude of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to the host communities of Omagwa and IPO, describing it as unfair treatment.
Chief Uchendu who was reacting to presentations and complains by the Port Harcourt International Airport Landlord Association Executive said FAAN has remained insensitive to the plight of the host communities.
In a chat with Aviation Correspondents at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Thursday Chief Andrew said the Landlords have reached him  with several issues which he took up with the relevant authorities.
“I took up the matter wrote to the Managing Director of FAAN and even the House Committee on Aviation but nothing has come out of it, he said.
He noted that as a lawmaker, he has made the case for his people but the executive arm of government has not done anything and assured that he would start new discussion on the matter as the House resumes.
The lawmaker also chided the federal government over the uncompleted remodeling project at the Port Harcourt International Airport, pointing out that the project was among the first phase but the Port Harcourt airport reminded in the same state of uncompletion for years.
Chief Andrew however, urged the communities not to carry out any protest that would obstruct operations at the airport but adopt dialogue in the resolving the issues.
It would be recalled that the chairman of the PHIA Landlords Association, Chief Amadi Henry, said the communities of Omagwa/ IPO are tempted to embark on protest because FAAN is not treating the people with respect “our people are denied employment, they prevented Network Service providers from erecting mast and therefore IPO people cannot make or receive phone calls.”

L-R: Regional General Manager, FAAN, Mrs. Ebele Okoye, Manager, Public & Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Fakayejo, DGM (Aviation Medical), Dr. Nuhu A. Mwadi during the flag-off ceremony of free health care campaign for Omagwa, Igwuruta, and Ipo communities/official handover ceremony of completed project at FAAN Medical Centre at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa sponsored by MPN/NNPC joint venture recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson