Nasarawa Govt Deploys N9.7b Airport Refund To Kwandere-Garaku Project

The Nasarawa State government is utlilising the N9.75bn received from the federal government as refund for the take-over of the erstwhile Lafia Cargo Airport on the 65 kilometre Kwandere-Garaku road.

Governor Abdullahi Sule had in May 2025 announced receipt of the fund from the federal government following the conclusion of all processes leading to the take-over of the facility renamed Usman Dan Fodio Airport.

He said construction of the road was imperative because it holds significant economic and social value for the state.

Our correspondent reports that the administration of former governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura had conceived the road as a key link from the airport, which is also located in Kwandere, to the Federal Capital Territory through Garaku and Keffi respectively.

Governor Sule noted that it was only fair to deploy the refund to make the idea a reality, while fast- tracking development along the corridor.

Earlier, the commissioner for works and transportation, Mr Mu’azu Gosho, acknowledged the importance of the road, pointing out that it would serve as an alternative route to the Lafia- Akwanga- Keffi road.

According to him, the road, when completed, will shorten the journey from Lafia to Keffi by more than 30 kilometres and also open up rural communities along that axis.

“The Gov. Abdullahi Sule-led administration has prioritised completing projects started by previous administrations, including the Kwandere-Garaku road. This road will drastically cut travel time from Lafia to Abuja, and this will attract heavy vehicular flow, including heavy duty trucks,” he explained.

The commissioner also said the Gov. Sule administration would open up more rural roads to ease the movement of farm produce to markets and boost the economic well-being of the people.