Commercial flights to resume in Markudi as Air force, FAAN sign agreement

23 Nov Commercial flights to resume in Markudi as Air force, FAAN sign agreement

Commercial flight operations are set to resume at the military airport, Makurdi, Benue state after prolonged restriction.

At the signing ceremony of the Joint Use Agreement held at the New banquet hall of Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, the Governor, Samuel Ortom, said that the lack of aircraft denied the state of collaborations with top personalities and that many people who wanted to access the state could not due to the lack of commercial flights.

The agreement was among the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Ortom said, “Benue state had been for a long time deleted from Nigeria map because of no flight,” he said.

“Some distinguish personalities who wanted to work with us couldn’t do so because of flights, they are denied such opportunity and we too are denied the opportunity, because of insecurity.

“The challenge had been air traffic. I believe that in a short while many things about Benue will now change and the economy of our people will grow.”

The governor also noted the immense support of the Nigerian Air Force to the state in areas of security, education, health, saying that the stoppage of commercial flight operations was due to lack of proper documentation.

James Gwani, NAF chief of training, air operation, the representative of the chief of air staff, chief of training and operations headquarters at the event, said that the utilisation of NAF aerodrome for civil flight operations was a component of their corporate social responsibility and civil-military relationship and that the economic and social benefits would be massive.

Clifford Omozeghian, FAAN’s company secretary and legal adviser, who represented the MD/CEO, said FAAN management was passionate about fulfilling its role in the agreement, especially with the impending responsibility of operating the Markudi airport.