By: TUNDE BOLAJI -MINNA.
The federal government has officially declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna as the alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
Minister of Aviation and Airspace Development, Festus Keyamo made the declaration during the inaugural flight ceremony of Overland Airways at BAT International Airport in Minna.
He said plans are on to deploy necessary measures like customs, immigration, police, NDLEA and others to process passengers if Abuja airport encounters problem, stating that enough of suppression Niger state of their rightful place.
Keyamo applauded the political will of governor Mohammed Umar Bago for the realization of the state dreams aimed at the economic development of the state, stressing the importance of airport transportation to Niger state in times of processing food (agriculture hub) as agro terminal to boost investment, job creation and increase GDP of the state.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support to the state, explained that the success is a collective efforts of all to rekindle the state dreams under New Niger Agenda of his administration.
According to him, the airport is sitting on 3,000 hectare, he has fixed the airport terminal, runway and to build first harsh terminal in the country with new facilities, to build 500 housing units for aviation ministry (aviation estate) underway, fuel dump, a five star hotel of Hilton hotel brand ongoing, and 1,000 km road construction to compliment the successful takeoff of the flight in the state.
Governor Bago added that 180 containers on a ship is being expected at the airport in Niger state as part of the activities at the airport, emphasizing that the Minna airport has all it takes to be developed like any other airport in the world.
On his part, the Founder and Managing Director of Overland Airways, Captain Edward Boyo said that the aircraft is a brand new one purchased as brand new development premium with latest technology facilities in aviation sector while he assured of excellence services.
Captain Boyo noted that the flag off of the Overland Airways flight marks the beginning of restructure to Minna, calling for stakeholders support for its sustainable operations which he commended the governor’s understanding of the worth of airport transportation.
Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi who acknowledged the developmental strides of the Niger state governor for actualizing the big dreams further hailed the aviation minister for significant improvement recorded in the sector.
He stressed that the prices of food stuffs is dropping gradually in the country following the strategic measures put in place by the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ensure food security in Nigeria, assured of better future for the citizens of the country.
The first Overland Airways Aircraft branded 5N-CCN took off 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday 23rd April, 2025 flagged off by the Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna.
