In Ebonyi: Government Denies Converting Airport Departure Lounge to Church, Cites Monthly Prayer Tradition for Staff

The Ebonyi State government, on Monday, denied the rumours making the rounds that it had converted the departure lounge of the Chuba Okadigbo Airport to a church as a result of low patronage.

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki on Monday, the Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, described the information as false and baseless.

She explained the staff of the ministry usually holds monthly prayers to re-dedicate and smoothen the recommencement of flight operations at the airport.

The social media was awash with a trending viral video of individuals purportedly conducting church services at the Departure Lounge of the airport.

The commissioner said, “Staff of the ministry held a prayer service to pray for the smooth landing and take-off of aircraft conveying prominent Nigerians who came to Ebonyi for the burial of the first civilian governor of Abia, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.” 

She further said flight activities have fully recommenced at the airport since after the rehabilitation of the runway, calling on the general public and air travellers to patronise the airport to boost the internally generated revenue of the state.

She averred that the essence of the monthly prayer service by the staff of the ministry was to seek God’s presence and protection, for all travellers especially, at this yuletide season.

She described purveyors of fake news as enemies of the state government, adding “Those carrying the false information are those who are not happy with the massive infrastructural development and enormous empowerment going on in the state by the governor, Francis Nwifuru.

“Governor Nwifuru has demonstrated capacity, commitment, prudence and transparency in all his dealings in the state.”