Taraba Airport Authorities Deny N30m Receipt From Sen Jimkuta

Authorities of the Kashimbila Airport located at the Kashimbila Multi-purpose Dam in Taraba State have denied allegations by the Senator representing Taraba South, Sen David Jimkuta that he offered N30 million to repair the airport’s tower so as to secure a landing permit.

Sen Jimkuta had on Monday, March 3, 2025, while resenting employment kits to his constituents in Wukari, the headquarters of Wukari local government area of Taraba State, accused the airport of frustrating his efforts to bring in his colleagues, including the Senate majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to Taraba State to witness his multi-billion naira empowerment programme.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the director, Publicity and Public Awareness, Kashimbila Airport, Mr Aliyu Musa said, at no time within his knowledge did the senator approach the authorities of the airport nor was he asked to pay N30 million for any repairs.

Addressing the people gathered at the event in both English and Hausa languages, Jimkuta emphasised that after he secured a jet to convey his colleagues to land at the Kashimbila Airport, he was asked to pay N30m for repairs of the airport tower.

“The Senate President mandated the majority leader, the Chief Whip and 17 other senators to be with me at this programme, but there has been a challenge we have been facing which my leader and myself have been trying to resolve but the issue remains unresolved.

“We were able to secure a landing permit at Kashimbila Airport. We got the jet which was already on ground. They said the problem was that the airport tower was shut down. First, they called me that they needed N30 million to be able to put on the power for the flight to come, of which we offered that money; we have it.

“Later, they said they needed two weeks for the airport to be ready for the flight. I was very disappointed; a lot of challenges, human challenges here and there, it is calculated, but I told my leader that with or without them, the programme is about our people and it must be done,” he said.

Musa while speaking on the allegations also disclosed that there was no communication from the Abuja head office of the airport as alleged by the senator.

“We were told about the outburst of the senator while he accused the Kashimbila Airport of frustrating him and other senators by denying them landing. As far as I’m concerned, the airport has no knowledge about receipt of the alleged N30 million. We were not contacted by anybody including the senator and our airport has been under routine maintenance all these while,” Musa stated.