By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu, has said that commercial flight activities would begin in Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport Onueke in June this year.

Obichukwu revealed this on Monday while reacting on the speculation in some section of the media alleging that flood has taken over some parts of the lounge due to absence of flight activities in the airport.

The Aviation Commissioner said that chartered flights regularly operate in the airport noting that two flights on charter which one has landed would be received in the international airport as to prove its functionality.

"Thank God you have gone round and see by yourself. I am happy that each time they said negative things about the state, the state has always stand upright and tall against whatever false allegations.

"Journalism or media information is not meant like this, when there's criticism it should be a corrective criticism and not attacking negatively, as a reporter, you have seen that there's nothing like flood here; everywhere is clean and you are seeing our flight is landing and by 5:00 o'clock today, we will be receiving another one.

"I pity those who have not been here or cross the gate, but are speculating this false criticism and the picture I saw on social media (Facebook )is not even gotten from here as it is not our own airport, but must say that it is not depicting well,” she stated.

She noted that her ministry is following the Nigeria Aviation Authority's directive which has lifted one month commercial flights operation in the international airport.

"We are following the Nigeria Aviation Authority's rules and regulations which for the past 6-7 months now, we have been on charter basis and gradually we want to enter the passenger lifting exercise which will last for one month from June, until they give us another authority to commence another type of operation.

"That's how airport graduate, you do not just get up and start choice of operation immediately. Everything follows sequential orders according to FAAN and NCEE, however, the United Nigeria Airline is coming to lift passengers from Ebonyi to Lagos, Lagos to Ebonyi, Abuja to Ebonyi, and Ebonyi to Abuja and it will last for one month and very soon we will be posting how flight payment will be made,” Obichukwu said.

Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport Onueke received flight with number: N989BC as at the time our Correspondent visited the area.