Benue state government has secured a licence and approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to construct an airport in Makurdi, the state capital.
The commissioner for information and culture, Michael Inalegwu, who disclosed this in Makurdi to journalists at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting yesterday, said of the 12 states that has secured licences only Benue and Ogun states were granted the approvals for the construction of airports.
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Inalegwu said the state government had also secured an approval from NCAA to allow Air Peace to commence commercial flights from the Makurdi Airport to other parts of the country.
According to him, “Flights from Makurdi Airport were billed to commence operations on 17th April, 2023 at 8 am from Makurdi to Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.”
The foundation laying ceremony for the airport, according to the commissioner, is scheduled for next week at Kura Village, along Naka Road, about 12 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital.
“The site for this airport is going to be at Kura, along Naka Road, about 12 kilometres from Makurdi town because of the proximity to the Industrial layout,” he said.
Although the commissioner expressed doubts about the possibility of the Ortom-led administration completing the airport project, he however said, “I believe that the Civil Aviation Airport would be of value addition to the socioeconomic growth of the state.”
“The next administration can equally continue with the project but the good news is that this administration pressed for the approval of this airport and we got it,” he added.
He said the location was appropriate as cargoes landing from the airport would be taken to the industrial layout on record time.