The Benue State government and its joint venture partners under the Public Private Partnership, has flagged off the 38 Billion Naira Benue international cargo airport on a 6,000-hectre land along the Makurdi-Lafia road.

Governor Samuel Ortom while speaking on the economic viability of the project conceived by former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, said the 38 billion Naira investment by the Nigerian/Chinese consortium on the airport project and other services, would change the economy significantly.

On its part, the consortium financing the project, which is now under the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation, is seeking security for men and infrastructure, as the governor perform the ground-breaking ceremony.

This 6,000 hectares of land along Makurdi-Lafia road, will host the Benue international cargo airport that will operate from the existing Makurdi Airport.

However, the project was stalled in 2014 when the management of the Nigerian Air Force Tactical Air Command refused to share the airport facilities with the proposed cargo airport project expansion.

The project, which is on a ‘build, operate and transfer agreement’ for a period of 25 years, is being flag off to accommodate cargos from Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

While explaining the delay in the take-off of the project, Governor Ortom gave credit to his former colleague and Aviation Minister, Oduah, outlining the benefits of the project.

Already, the contractors handling the Benue International Cargo Airport project have mobilised to the 6,000 hectares site, with a promise to deliver the project for commissioning in five years.

•Sourced from Channels TV. Photo shows Governor Ortom.

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