Ebonyi government says airport is not a church

The Ebonyi State Government has confirmed that workers at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport say prayers before starting work. But they denied that the airport has been turned into a worship centre.

The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, first called a viral video showing a church service at the airport fake and said it was made by AI. He later admitted that staff members do pray there but insisted that this is different from a church service.

“It is not true, in all ramifications,” Mr Omebeh said. “It has never been a worship centre, and we don’t intend to use it as a worship centre.”

He spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday. He was addressing criticism of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s government and promoting the governor’s re-election.

Mr Omebeh first claimed the viral video was made by AI. He pointed out that former President Goodluck Jonathan used the airport about three weeks ago while going to a burial in Cross River State as proof that the airport was still in use.

“I am sure that it is AI-generated; this is the same airport former President Goodluck Jonathan used about three weeks ago to a local government in Calabar,” he said.

When asked which AI tool was used to check the video, Mr Omebeh could not name one. “I am coming from Abakaliki, and I’m on ground to tell you that those things are not correct,” he said.

During the interview, the presenter reminded him of an earlier statement from the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okike-Uzo. Mr Okike-Uzo had also said the video was fake but mentioned that airport staff regularly hold communal prayers on Thursdays before work.

Mr Omebeh later admitted that staff do pray at the airport. He insisted that the gathering is a prayer session and not a church service run by an outside church.

“We welcome prayer, but not church service,” he said.

Mr Omebeh also claimed that some protests and opposition against the state government are sponsored. But he did not name anyone responsible, despite being asked multiple times.

“We do not have any opposition,” he said. He then talked about what he called the governor’s achievements.

When asked if a governor could remove elected local government chairmen who did not deliver votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Omebeh did not answer directly. Instead, he said Mr Nwifuru does not interfere with local government funds. He urged council chairmen to ensure their people benefit from democracy and gain their trust through good work.

“Every leader is rated by his performance,” he said. “Make sure that you perform.”

Charles Otu, spokesperson for the Ebonyi Civil Society Coalition Group, claimed on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Thursday, 3 September, that a church has taken over the airport for midweek and Sunday services. He also said the only flights landing at the airport are private charters for the governor and his wife at public cost.

The airport, located in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area, has been a topic of debate for years. Former Governor David Umahi said in April 2023 that the state spent N36 billion to build the airport, while unofficial reports claim the cost was over N42 billion.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has only approved the airport for chartered flights and private jets. A video showing church services in the airport's departure lounge went viral.

The issue with local government chairmen arose after Mr Nwifuru’s comments on 1 September. At the swearing-in of new council chairmen in Abakaliki, the governor said, “we will remove any chairman who fails to win his local government.”

Governorship elections in most states, including Ebonyi, are set for 6 February 2027, according to the revised timetable from the Independent National Electoral Commission.