Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport Bauchí was recently handed over to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officially by Bauchi State Government, for effective management and economic development of the state.
While addressing journalists shortly after a meeting with FAAN management at the Government House, Bauchi, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, said the deal has been completed and the facility now fully handed over to the Federal Government.
Auwal Jatau, who received the FAAN management on behalf of Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed optimism that the handing over of the airport to FAAN will engender more development for the state and the Northeast subregion.
On his part, the Managing Director of FAAN, Kabir Yusuf Muhammad, said the Federal Executive Council has approved some substantial amount of money as a refund to the Bauchi State Government.
The Managing Director said even though the money might not be the exact amount Bauchi State had spent on the airport, he believed it was a sizable amount to be used for other projects.
“We are happy that the Bauchi State Government has agreed to cede the facility to the federal government for effective service delivery. The airport had been collaboratively operated by FAAN and the Bauchi State government.
“In a most recent discussion, looking at how to optimally use the airport, the Bauchi government graciously agreed to cede the operations of the airport to FAAN not because they cannot maintain it.
“It’s because they strongly believe that handing it over to the federal government will open more development, not just to the airport but to the state government in general. I believe that not only Bauchi State but the entire North East region will benefit from the new arrangement.”
He explained that the Bauchi State Government has done creditably well for constructing a befitting airport of international standards which provides easy access to prospective air passengers from not just the state but the northeast in general.
On his part, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim, said the takeover of the airport by the Federal Government will open up tourists sites in the state to international visitors which will also mean a unilateral development for other sectors of the economy of the state.
