From Ben Adaji, Jalingo
Contrary to media publications that 27 senators were denied landing permit at Kashimbila Airport in Taraba State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief David Kente said the lawmakers were not denied landing permit.
The lawmakers were in Taraba to attend their colleague, Senator David Jimkuta’s empowerment programme in Wukari on Monday
Kente explained to journalists in Wukari yesterday that Kashimbila Airport has been consessioned to a private firm to manage and the process of transitioning between the federal government and the new handlers of the facility is ongoing.
Kente, who is the Chairman of DSK Foundation and a 2023 governorship contender in Taraba State, observed that there was no way a landing permit could have been granted since the transitioning process has not been completed.
“Although a request to that effect was made to the airport so as to ease the transportation of our guests, the senators, Jimkuta and I understood the position of the facility since the concession process was still ongoing,” he said.
He stressed that the development was not peculiar to the senators since routine flight operations have since been suspended at Kashimbila Airport to enable a smooth transition between the federal government and the new managers.
Kente noted that apart from the change of guards, the new handlers may also be embarking on some restructuring and improvement to make it meet international standards and best practices.
The APC chieftain said the statement credited to Senator Jimkuta who empowered his constituents with over N2 billion that the senators were denied landing permit was a communication gap.
He appealed for calm and urged the media not to rush to the press but to subject every information to thorough scrutiny before publication.
Our correspondent reports that there were speculations on Monday in Wukari that some special guests of Chief Kente who celebrated his 60th birthday and those who were billed to grace the economic empowerment programme of Senator Jimkuta were denied landing permit at Kashimbila Airport.
