As hunger bites harder, states focus on building airports

VANGUARD

LAGOS — When reports emerged a few years ago about Jigawa State’s plans to build an airport, many were left confused, especially in the midst of the poverty of the people of the state.

The utter disbelief, which greeted the news, stemmed from the fact that such a project was needless, given Jigawa’s proximity to Kano, which already had an airport.

But 11 years after the Dutse International Airport was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan, after being built by former Governor Sule Lamido, critics’ concerns now appear justified as checks reveal that the airport is not thriving.

This is despite the fact that The New World, under the Lamido administration, was reported to have spent $55.24 million, (N4 billion, going by prevailing exchange rate at the time), in building the airport.

However, Jigawa is not alone in what has now become an unexciting contest among state governors to build airports, thereby drawing jeers from observers.

In June 20, 2024, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State flagged-off construction works for Gusau International Airport, declaring that the project, managed by Triacta Nigeria Limited, with JBI Tech Consult, will promote social interaction, business and tourism in the state.

On December 17, 2024, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State followed suit by flagging-off the construction of the proposed Abia Airport, describing it as a landmark project that will boost economic activities and place the state as a vital hub in the West African sub-region. This is despite opposition by the host community.

Scathing criticisms

Expectedly, both pro-jects received scathing criticisms from Nigerians who were taken aback by the development.

For instance, an X user, identified as Kay001, faulted the move, stating: “This is just a waste of money, where citizens of that state are wallowing in abject poverty. The governor should first see to their welfare and not the white elephant project. There are four airports in that axis, with close proximity to Kano international airport, Katsina, Sokoto and Jigawa.”

Also expressing disappointment, another X user, with the name Mazi Aristotle, remarked: “Building an airport does not solve the problem of insecurity. Businessmen flying to China do not translate to an airport being a viable venture. A modern, local transportation system will add more to the development of Abia than the airport.”

It did not end there.

Two years after former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State commissioned the Ekiti State Agro-allied International Cargo Airport, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji disclosed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, had granted approval for the airport to commence non-scheduled flight operations from December 15, 2024.

The announcement, which took place on December 12, 2024, also provoked many, eliciting questions about why Ekiti would spend N16 billion on a project likely to join the endless lists of ghost airports across the country.

A netizen, who identifies as Adetola Adedeji on X, had stated: “Nigerian governors will abandon the most important and basic things. They will go after white elephant projects just to make money. You cannot point to one standard public secondary school and hospital in Ekiti State but somehow, having an airport is more important.”

Similarly, Mr James asserted on X: “There are many towns and villages in Ekiti State without good and accessible roads. Let this governor concentrate on providing basic infrastructure for the people of Ekiti. Cargo airport, without accessible roads to farms, will be a white elephant project.”

The outrage increased as Ogun State government boasted that its uncompleted Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport has the longest runway in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

At the construction site, along Iperu-Ilishan Road, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya, boasted before journalists that “the runway is the longest in Nigeria right now.

‘’The main runway, which is 3.4 kilometres, added with the safety zone, an additional 600, makes a total of four kilometres.”

While expressing disbelief at Akinsanya’s boast, an X user by the name, Pragmatic007, countered, saying: “Longest runway is great. But wait, how will a government that is finding it difficult to mend potholes in Ogun State manage the longest runway? Abeg, the small portion of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway at the toll gate you mended just some months ago has collapsed ooo.”

How it all started

Since the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State was built in 1936 as Britain prepared for a possible war with Germany, airports have become a visible feature of the Nigerian state, with many constructed by governors.

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