Anambra to build second airport in Orumba North as part of smart megacity plan; project to boost investment and create jobs through aerotropolis development.

Anambra to build second airport in less than four years after inaugurating the Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport, Umeri, as part of its ambitious plan to transform the state into a smart megacity.

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The Managing Director of the existing Chinua Achebe Cargo Airport, Mr Martins Nwafor, disclosed the plans on Friday during an inspection visit to Ndikelionwu, in Orumba North Local Government Area, where the new airport is to be sited.

Mr Nwafor, who also chairs the newly formed Airport and Aerotropolis Committee, said the project would serve as a springboard for investment, combining aviation infrastructure with commercial, residential, and logistics development.

“The project will attract investment by combining aviation infrastructure with surrounding commercial, residential and logistics facilities to create a dynamic airport-driven city,” he stated.

The proposed development aligns with the state government’s smart megacity vision, aiming to accelerate industrialisation and broaden economic opportunities.

Nwafor explained that the inspection was to identify a flyable and geologically viable location for an aerotropolis, which would include an airport and industrial park.

This marks a significant move by the state, just four years after the inauguration of the Achebe Airport, which was launched in April 2017 and completed in 2020 under former Governor Willie Obiano, with formal commissioning on October 30, 2021.

Community leaders in Ndikelionwu, including former President-General Fabian Nwosu and Vice President Ifesinachi Onwurah, welcomed the initiative, promising full cooperation and support.

“We’re grateful the government is bringing this project here. It will bring jobs and transform our community,” said Nwosu.

Among officials present were Prof Charles Ofoegbu, Managing Director of the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company, Retired AVM Ben Chiobi, Senior Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, and architect Mr Chukwudi Ezenwa, founder of Sliding Towers.

A team of geologists and geophysicists from the state’s Solid Minerals Development Company also joined the visit to assess the terrain for suitability.

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As Anambra positions itself as an aviation and industrial hub in the Gulf of Guinea region, the second airport could serve as a major catalyst for economic transformation—unlocking the state’s vast, untapped potential.