Umahi jokes over private jet landing on Delta road, demands ‘landing fee’ from Aviation Ministry

By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki

Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, lightened the mood on Wednesday by suggesting that the Ministry of Aviation should cover “landing, parking and takeoff costs” after a private jet mistakenly landed on a concrete road under construction in Asaba, Delta State.

The comment came while Umahi was touring the Abakaliki–Afikpo–Ndibe Beach Trans‑Saharan Highway project in Ebonyi State, accompanied by a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.

The incident involved an unnamed private aircraft that touched down on a newly laid concrete section at Ogwashi‑Ukwu, a road overseen by the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi said the event, though accidental, highlighted the quality of the road infrastructure being delivered. He added that the pilot may have mistaken the road for a runway.

“I was watching Arise TV this morning and saw where they were talking about the plane that landed on the road we are constructing at Ogwashi‑Ukwu in Delta State. I don’t blame the pilot for mistaking our concrete roads for runways,” Umahi said.

He continued, joking that the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, should be asked to pay for the unintended use of the road.

“I want to tell my brother, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, to pay us landing, parking and takeoff costs for using our road as runway,” he said.

Umahi stressed that while the incident was not deliberate, it underscored the durability of the road projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and that such roads should not be used for aircraft operations.

He urged caution to prevent a recurrence, stating, “They should not land on our roads again because if they do, they will pay landing and takeoff costs.”

During the inspection, Umahi highlighted the strategic importance of the Abakaliki–Afikpo–Ndibe Beach Trans‑Saharan Highway, describing it as a legacy project of the current administration aimed at improving transportation, trade and regional connectivity.

According to him, the highway will connect Ebonyi and Cross River States through Ndibe Beach in Afikpo, extend economic benefits to Benue and Kogi States and strengthen cross‑border trade with neighbouring Cameroon.

Mainouna Sidibe, leader of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development delegation, expressed satisfaction with the pace of infrastructure development in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged continued support for projects that boost regional economic growth.

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