By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the concession of the Kashimbila Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport in Taraba state under a Public Private Partnership arrangement (PPP).
Approved under the regulatory guidance of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the project cuts across agriculture, water resources, and aviation sectors.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Head of ICRC, Ifeanyi Nwoko in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that this will translate to upgrading an airstrip in Kashimbilla to a Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport on one hand, and on the other hand has a combination of over 3,000 hectares farmland, fish farming facilities and a ranch for livestock farming.
Giving insights into the project, Director General of the ICRC, Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the speedy approval which he gave to the project whose facilities increases Nigeria’s potential to export agricultural products.
“The processes for this project were stated and completed in six months in fulfilment of the charge given to me by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate PPP projects’ procurement.
“The Kashimbila project includes the concession of over 3,000 hectares of farmland for irrigation farming, the upgrade of the airport for agro-cargo services, and the development of an aerotropolis and Free Trade Zone with business parks, logistics hubs, and residential areas”.
“It is located in Taraba State, Nigeria and aims to enhance agricultural logistics, improve market access, and stimulate economic development,” he said.
Reeling out the impact of the Kashimbila project, Ewalefoh said that the concession will among other things, boosts agricultural productivity by enabling year-round irrigation farming, create employment opportunities and attract investment in agribusiness and stimulate local and national economies through trade and exports.
He said that with the Kashimbilla project, regional integration will be enhanced as Taraba state will be connected to national and international markets, facilitating trade, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created.
The project is expected to generate N4.1 trillion revenue from multiple sources during the concession period.
The DG thanked the relevant ministries for their efforts in ensuring the success of the inter-agency collaboration to achieve the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.
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