MINNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROPOSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE UNTILL REHABILITATION IS CONCLUDED AT THE ABUJA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Following plans to shutdown Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for rehabilitation, Niger State Government, has urged the Federal Government to make use of Minna International Airport as alternative.

The appeal came days after the Federal Government announced plans to close down the Abuja airport for rehabilitation in February.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa on Monday in Minna, argued that the state airport was the closest to Abuja.

According to the Commissioner, the state government is ready to assist the apex government in making Minna airport an alternative for the duration when the Abuja airport will be closed.
He said that Minna airport had the requisite facilities and manpower to serve as trusted alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, adding that the state was also known as one of most peaceful in the country.

He added that conversion of Minna airport for the purpose would further reduce the suffering of travelers visiting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“In time like this, Minna airport should be used and in the most economic way, it should also be used as a cargo airport. Therefore, with the planned closure of Abuja airport for rehabilitation, it is wise economically to use Minna to serve Abuja.’’

“The proximity of Minna to Abuja is one hour plus if the dualisation work on Minna-Suleja road is fast tracked and completed as planned by the Federal Government. As government, we, therefore, call on the authorities to look into this viable alternative,’’ he said.

Vatsa however, appealed to Federal Government to hasten work on the dualisation of Suleja–Minna road to serve as gateway to the Minna airport to be used as alternative.