Katsina Airport Expansion: Aviation Ministry orders resumption of work

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace has mandated the contractors handling projects at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport, Katsina State to move to the site and commence work, as the state government has concluded plans to pay compensation to landowners.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, disclosed this while receiving the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, in Abuja.

According to Meribole, issues concerning compensation and secession between the military and civilian land are being sorted out.

Meribole, who spoke through the Head of Press and Public Affairs of the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, in a statement, said, “There are eight projects at the airport, some of which include: the expansion of the existing airport APRON, fire truck building, new terminal, cargo terminal, and fire truck maintenance and refurbishment.”

He commended the state government for collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure the takeoff of the Katsina airport projects.

He noted that the government’s efforts to solve the challenges hindering the commencement of work after the groundbreaking ceremony that took place some months back were yielding positive results.

He said the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace had been in talks with the Chief of Air Staff on the issue of land secession.

However, he called on the governor to strengthen talks further with the Chief of Air Staff on the matter.

Responding, the governor of Katsina State appreciated the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for locating the projects in Kastina.

He said approval had been given for the payment of land compensation to all the landowners to ease the completion of the projects.

Radda urged the contractors to quickly move to the site and assured he would not relent in his efforts until the projects are completed.

Punch/Hauwa Abu