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Claim
On a Facebook page, Eastern Development Volunteer shared fine photos of the constructed airport and claimed it’s the new airport in Abia State in Nigeria’s Southeast.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING. A simple Google Image Reverse Search showed that the two images attached to the claim were taken from the Zayed
The international airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The construction of Abia State Airport had just commenced on 17th December 2024.
Full Text
“Governor Alex Oti is doing a great job. Just under 1 and a half, he has constructed many roads, even the worst roads that were abandoned before he took over. Look at Aba today; Aba is one of the neatest cities in Nigeria today. He didn’t stop there, now it is an airport, we have to give it to him. He is doing wonderfully well.“
“May God guide him and give him more wisdom to govern Ndi Abia.”
“Which area in Abia
Wow God is good. Thank u Otti.“
These were comments that followed photos shared by a Facebook page, Eastern Development Volunteer.
Eastern Development Volunteer published two photos and claimed that these photos of well well-constructed airport and claimed it’s the new airport in Abia State.
The post on the Facebook page reads, “THE BLUEPRINT: Abia State Airport Design
A Landmark Project Like No Other.”
Invest in Abia State, the Rising “Japan of Africa.”
The post generated over 12k reactions and many comments as of Sunday afternoon.
Verification
When FACTWATCH Nigeria subjected these images to Google Image Reverse Search, results showed that the photos were taken from the Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to depict an unconstructed Abia State airport.
Zayed International Airport, also known as Abu Dhabi International Airport is the primary international airport serving Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the second busiest airport in the UAE after Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the Middle East, and is the hub for Etihad Airways as well as an operating base for Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.
On the first week of December 2024, the Abia State Government announced that construction work on the proposed Abia Airport will commence on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, the approved location for the project.
On 17th December, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo said the new international airport to be cited in Abia State will transform the state into a commercial hub of the South East region.
The aviation minister said this at the flag-off ceremony of the Abia International Airport in Nsulu, Abia State.
The Abia Airport project is primarily a federal government initiative, with the state government contributing through runway upgrades.
The airport, initially an airstrip, was upgraded to an international airport.
Conclusion
Simple findings showed that these photos were taken from UAE airport to depict an Abia airport yet to be constructed. Therefore, it’s MISLEADING.
Credit: FACTWATCH Nigeria
