From HASSAN JIRGI, Maiduguri
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum has assured the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr Festus Keyamo, of his administration’s support, as the ministry announced plans to upgrade the Muhammadu Buhari Airport, Maiduguri, to international status.
Zulum gave the assurance during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
“As the chairman of North-East Governors and this is our first international airport, I want to assure of the political will needed to ensure the implementation of this laudable strides,” Zulum said.
The governor emphasised that Maiduguri, being a gateway for most countries around Lake Chad and Central Africa, would stimulate economic development in the region by upgrading the airport.
Speaking earlier, the aviation minister assured that the Muhammadu Buhari Airport would take off as a full international airport on January 1, 2025, noting that all the takeoff preparations have been concluded and that relevant government agencies have been notified of the development.
The minister expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving the upgrade of the airport, stressing that of all the geopolitical zones, only the North-East has no full international airport in the country.
