The Abia State government has stepped in to resolve the tension following last week’s protest by landowners in the Nsulu airport city over delayed compensation payments.
During the demonstration on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the villagers had issued a stern warning, threatening to take back portions of the 1,025 hectares in Isiala Ngwa North LGA acquired by the state if they didn’t receive their full payments.
In a formal response issued this Tuesday, the state government confirmed that the process of paying out compensation to villagers with land located outside the immediate airport runway officially began on February 23, 2026.
Chaka Chukwumerije, the Commissioner for Lands, clarified the government’s stance, noting that farmers and residents whose properties sat directly on the runway path had already been compensated in full during an earlier phase.
He identified the specific communities involved in that initial payout as Umuala, Umuomainta, Umuezeukwu, Umuode, Umuosu, and Ubaha.
According to the commissioner, officials held a town hall meeting with the affected communities on February 18, 2026, to walk them through the final arrangements for the remaining payments.
Chukwumerije explained that those with land outside the runway were intentionally given a grace period to review the published list of beneficiaries and flag any necessary corrections or claims.
The Lands Commissioner offered a firm guarantee to the villagers that every kobo owed would be paid, while issuing a sharp warning that any shady or corrupt behavior by government workers or locals would face the full weight of the law.
He concluded by urging all valid claimants to ensure their names are properly recorded at the Ministry of Lands to facilitate their final payments.