…Keyamo hails initiative
BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday joined Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to flag off the construction of an international airport at Zariagi, saying the project would attract investors, boost trade and open up new economic opportunities.
Keyamo, who described the project as a historic milestone, said the airport would put Zariagi on the global aviation map and improve the state’s connection with the rest of the world.
He explained that the airport would give the community international recognition through the global airport identification and coding system operated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The minister also defended the decision to build an international airport in Kogi, arguing that major infrastructure projects should sometimes come before the arrival of investors and big businesses.
According to him, waiting for international companies, luxury hotels and other major businesses to establish themselves in the state before building an airport could delay development indefinitely.
“If you are waiting for the best international companies to be here, the best international hotels to be here before you put an airport, you wait for the next one million years, it will not come. It is the airport that attracts these developments,” he said.
Keyamo attributed the project to the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu and Ododo’s determination to invest in critical infrastructure.
He said the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market had increased revenue available to state governments, giving them greater capacity to execute major projects.
However, he stressed that increased revenue alone could not guarantee development without purposeful leadership and the willingness to invest in projects capable of transforming the economy.
“One, the positive policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vision of the Governor. These are the two things that combined to make this thing possible today,” he said.
Earlier, Ododo described the airport as a strategic investment that would help unlock Kogi’s agricultural and solid mineral resources and connect them to local and international markets.
He said the project would ease the movement of agricultural produce and mineral resources, attract local and foreign investors, stimulate commercial activities and create jobs.
The governor added that the airport would improve the movement of people and goods, strengthen connectivity and encourage the development of supporting infrastructure across the state.
Kogi is endowed with solid minerals, including iron ore, limestone, coal, marble, dolomite, feldspar, kaolin, gypsum and talc. Its agricultural produce includes cassava, rice, maize, cashew and palm oil.
The airport is expected to support investment, tourism and cargo transportation, while providing easier access for business executives, technical experts and other visitors.
Keyamo, who was accompanied by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, and other officials, later joined Ododo in laying the foundation for the project.
The ceremony was attended by members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, dignitaries and the immediate past Deputy Governor, Edward David Onoja.
The project forms part of the Kogi State Government’s drive to diversify its economy, attract investment and use infrastructure development to promote long-term growth.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
