By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Wednesday joked that the Ministry of Aviation should be made to pay “landing, parking and takeoff costs” after a private jet mistakenly landed on a concrete road under construction in Asaba, Delta State.
Umahi made the remark during an inspection tour of the Abakaliki–Afikpo–Ndibe Beach Trans-Saharan Highway project in Ebonyi State, alongside a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
The minister was reacting to reports that an unnamed private aircraft had mistakenly touched down on a section of newly constructed concrete pavement at Ogwashi-Ukwu in Delta State, a road being handled by the Federal Ministry of Works.
He said the incident, though humorous, reflected the quality of road infrastructure being delivered, adding 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.
Joking further, he added that the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, should be made to pay charges 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 intentional, it underscored the durability of ongoing road projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that such roads should not be used for aircraft operations.
He also urged caution to prevent a recurrence, saying: “They should not land on our roads again because if they do, they will pay landing and takeoff costs.”
On the inspection tour, Umahi highlighted the strategic importance of the Abakaliki–Afikpo–Ndibe Beach Trans-Saharan Highway, describing it as one of the administration’s legacy projects designed to enhance transportation, trade, and regional connectivity.
According to him, the highway will link Ebonyi and Cross River States through Ndibe Beach in Afikpo, extending economic benefits to Benue and Kogi States and strengthening cross-border trade with neighbouring Cameroon.
Leader of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development delegation, Mainouna Sidibe, 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.
