Landowners from communities affected by the Abia Airport project in Nsulu, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of the state, have intensified protests against the Abia State Government, accusing it of unfair treatment, lack of transparency, and failure to pay compensation for their land.
The demonstration, which began at Umunkolo Civic Hall, saw aggrieved landowners carrying placards with messages such as “Adequate compensation should be paid to landowners,” “30% discount not acceptable after 10% deduction by attorney,” among others.
Tensions escalated as community representatives accused the state government of stage-managing a deceptive public display.
They claimed that women were mobilized to dance at the airport site to create a false impression that compensation had been paid.
The landowners insist that no such payments have been made and decried the government’s approach to acquiring their land.
There is also growing concern over the lack of clarity regarding the actual size of land being acquired.
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The protesters noted that till date, they have not been given proper documentation or briefings on the total hectares earmarked for the project.
One of the landowners from Umulenwa Mbawsi, Chimaeze Nwabuko, expressed frustration over the process and called on the state government to return to the originally designated site for the airport.
He demanded a renegotiation to determine the accurate size of land being taken from their communities.
A female farmer among the protesters lamented that the current farming season is underway, yet locals face the loss of their lands without compensation, disrupting their livelihoods.
The protest was cut short when armed police officers stationed at the entrance of the airport site barred the landowners from advancing further.
Security operatives reportedly advised the protesters to seek alternative channels to convey their grievances to the state government.
The landowners are demanding a fresh round of negotiations, accurate land measurement, and immediate and fair compensation, warning that the current approach by the state government could lead to further unrest.
