Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has officially flagged off the construction of Kogi international airport in Zariagi.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister, Keyamo joined Ahmed Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, at the foundation-laying ceremony on Tuesday, which marked the commencement of the project.
The minister was accompanied by Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other aides.
Speaking at the event, Keyamo described the flag-off as a historic milestone whose significance would endure for generations.
Advertisement
He said airports are identified through a global aviation coding system, adding that the project would give Zariagi international visibility within the aviation community through the relevant identification and coding processes of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“Today, as from today, this village called Zariagi will be on the global aviation map,” the minister declared.
Keyamo attributed the project to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu and Ododo’s determination to translate the state’s resources into meaningful development.
He said the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange (FX) market have increased allocations to subnational governments, giving states greater fiscal capacity to undertake infrastructure projects.
Addressing concerns about the rationale for building an international airport in Kogi, the minister argued that infrastructure could attract investment and commercial activities rather than wait for them to emerge.
“If you are waiting for the best international companies to be here, the best international hotels to be here before you put an airport, you wait for the next one million years, it will not come,” he said.
“It is the airport that attracts these developments. The airport is the precursor. The airport is the forerunner. The airport is the indicator of development.”
Keyamo said the airport would provide a foundation for increased investment, improved accessibility and new economic opportunities that could transform the state in the years ahead.
He commended Ododo for his commitment to positioning Kogi state for greater economic relevance, expressing optimism that the project would deliver lasting benefits to present and future generations.
On his part, Ododo described the airport as a strategic investment in the state’s economic future, saying it would help unlock its agricultural and solid mineral resources for local and international markets.
The governor said the airport would support the transportation of agricultural produce and mineral resources, attract investors, stimulate commercial activities, and create jobs.
He added that the project would improve the movement of people and goods, strengthen connectivity, attract new businesses and accelerate the development of supporting infrastructure across the state.
