By Muhmmad Aliyu
Dutse
The federal government has said that it was determined to provide modern and sophisticated air space equipment in all the airports across the country in order to minimise plane crashes.
President Goodluck Jonathan stated this yesterday in Dutse while commissioning the multi-billion naira Dutse International Airport which was constructed by the Jigawa state government.
“Plane crashes are inevitable, but they can be averted if modern equipment gadgets are provided God willing, air crashes will soon become a thing of the past in Nigeria as we are determined to provide such facilities to our Airports.”
He said the federal government had accepted to fulfill all the promises made to Jigawa state, but added that government would assist the state reasonably.
Jonathan said the federal government was impressed with the airport project in Jigawa state.
He said: “The federal government will assist Jigawa state reasonably to maintain and sustained the airport, apart from the airport, federal government will Jigawa ecological, agricultural and health sector.”
He commended jigawa state Governor, Sule Lamido, for providing an edifice for the people of Jigawa state and Nigerians, adding that the airport project was a necessary means of development.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chief Osita Chidoka, said the commissioning of the Dutse airport reflected the ‘true face of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda in boosting development in the country.”
Chidoka noted that currently there were 22 airports in the country, out of which seven were constructed during the present administration that was determined to bring dividend of democracy close to every Nigerian.
In his speech, Governor Sule Lamido thanked the president for honouring the people of Jigawa by personally commissioning the airport, and disclosed that the airport was constructed at N15 billion instead of the initial N11 billion and lamented that the federal government gave the state only N750 million.
Lamido added that the state also provided all necessary gadgets, equipment and security personnel to manage the airport.
