The Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation on Thursday disclosed plans to promote food security and boost the economy through Hadejia Airport in Jigawa State.
According to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the airport will be used to transport agricultural products from Jigawa and other neighbouring states to different parts of the country and beyond.
The initiative, which focuses on aviation, aims to combat crime and insecurity, while also promoting the free movement of people and goods has been awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the declaration during the groundbreaking ceremony of Hadejia Airport in Jigawa State.
Sirika noted that the Buhari administration had committed significant resources to the project, recognising the crucial role aviation can play in enhancing the security architecture of the country.
By connecting markets, people and cultures, the initiative seeks to strengthen the country’s economy and promote food security.
He said, “Today we are performing the groundbreaking ceremony to re-establish air transportation in this very historic city town of Hadejia.
“We are very delighted for very many reasons. The purpose for which the Buhari administration found and establish to commit resources to this venture are very many but on top of them is the way the security architecture of the country has changed and aviation taking centre stage in combating crime and insecurity as well as the focus of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari on agriculture and food security as well as the free movement of people in the most efficient manner to connect market to market, people to people and culture to culture, history to history and tradition to tradition.”
He added, “You cannot discuss history to tradition, culture, and market and eliminate Hadejia. It is incomplete. The place with a very huge culture, aviation, and market and therefore leaving them out of the map where it can be accessed through air transportation is a mistake and unthinkable and we think that we should correct it.