FG inspects Lafia cargo airport ahead of planned takeover

A team from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has inspected the Lafia Cargo Airport, as part of the process for refunding and subsequent takeover of the facility by the federal government. The team, led by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs Suzette Taylor-Lee Chee, paid a courtesy call on Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi […]

A team from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has inspected the Lafia Cargo Airport, as part of the process for refunding and subsequent takeover of the facility by the federal government.

The team, led by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs Suzette Taylor-Lee Chee, paid a courtesy call on Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, at the Government House Thursday.

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Represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Victor Amata, the permanent secretary said they were in the state to inspect the Lafia Cargo Airport as part of the process leading to the taking over of the facility by the federal government.

She expressed appreciation that the ministry was in receipt of all the necessary documents and had gotten the desired support, regarding the handing over of the airport.

She said:  “Part of the procedure of refund is for us to inspect the project before we communicate it to the council. We want to assure you that after this inspection, I am sure in the next couple of weeks, we will get FEC approval for this project.”

Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule appreciated the federal government for approving the takeover of the airport.

While also thanking members of the team for undertaking the inspection visit, the governor appealed to them to also consider inspecting the bypass linking the airport to Keffi, started by the past administration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura.

“Even though that would be outside your responsibility, I will plead with you to also look at the road. I’m happy you came on the road through Akwanga. But the former governor, as he was building the airport, began the construction of another road that will link to Keffi, which will now reduce almost one and a half hours of time from Abuja.

“That’s the purpose of this airport, to link us to Abuja. But it will not be only for the people of Nasarawa State. It will be for the people of Benue, Taraba and other eastern and southern parts of the country that come through Lafia,” he stated.