Aviation Minister, Stella Adaeze Oduah has said the Federal government is very committed to the actualisation of the dream of Jigawa Airport project. The Minister spoke while on inspection tour of the progress of work on the project.
The Minister, who expressed happiness on the pace of work on the airport project, said the Federal government will do everything within its powers to support the laudable project of the Sule Lamido administration in the state.
The Minister said the airport, when completed would tremendously boost the economy of the state and its environs, adding that the Federal government would also construct a Perishable Cargo terminal to enhance the agricultural produce and commercial viability in the area.
According to her, Jigawa airport has the potential to become the Perishable Cargo hub in the region, adding that this will greatly enhance the income of farmers in the area who would have ready international markets for their produce.
She said the government was very proud of the milestones already achieved by governor Lamido in a little over eights months of the commencement of the project, and expressed the hope that the airport would commence full operations in the first quarter of 2014.
In his remarks, Lamido expressed happiness with the support his government has received from the federal government on the project, adding that at the pace work was being executed, the airport would be completed by the end of January 2014.
The governor agreed with Oduah that the airport would boost the economy of the state, adding that when completed, the airport would be the hub in the region in terms of agricultural produce export.
He disclosed that the project would cost the state government about 11 billion naira, stressing that the success achieved within eight months of the commencement of the project is a good example of what Nigeria and Nigerians can achieve with the right determination and focus.