Less than two months into his administration, Governor Samuel Ortom has secured a licence and approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) to construct a Civil Aviation Airport in Makurdi, the state capital. The Commissioner of Information and Culture, Michael Inalegwu, made the announcement in Makurdi after the State Executive Council meeting. Out of the 12 states that secured licenses, only Benue and Ogun were granted approvals for the construction of airports.
Inalegwu further revealed that the State Government had also received approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities to allow Air Peace to commence commercial flights from the Makurdi Airport to other parts of the country. Flights from the Makurdi Airport are scheduled to commence operations on April 17, 2023, at 8 am from Makurdi to Lagos, Abuja, and other parts of the country.
The foundation laying ceremony for the airport is expected to take place next week at Kura village, located along Naka road, about 12 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital. The choice of the location was appropriate as cargoes landing from the airport would be taken to the industrial layout on record time.
Although the Information Commissioner expressed doubts about the possibility of Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration completing the airport project, he believes that the Civil Aviation Airport would be a value addition to the state’s socio-economic growth. He stated that “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.”