Federal government has launched the expansion of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina State.
The minister of aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who performed the groundbreaking ceremony in Katsina, explained that the expansion which will cost over N23.7 billion would boost social and economic activities through the transport of goods and services.
He said the multi-billion project which has about four departments, consisting of the fire truck maintenance, terminal building, cargo centre and pavement. When completed, it will create about 1,500 jobs for residents of the state.
“The fire truck maintenance and the overall rehabilitation centre is about N14 billion. All the facilities have been procured and are in place, we are just waiting for the building to finish to mount them. What is now left is the terminal building which will be made within six months, and put together about N7 billion.
“We hope that the terminal building will be delivered in 12 months. The cargo centre is about N1.4 billion but there is a slight request for adjustment. That would be done within the completion of 6 months. The pavement is 6 months, and it is about N1.3 billion.”
The minister, therefore said the main airport would be left for the Nigeria Airforce to be used for their emergency response operation.
