With only a few days left in his presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) commissioned the newly completed international terminal of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and other significant projects in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Friday.
The President, who spoke digitally, emphasised Kano’s unique position as the country’s gateway for business, investment, and entrepreneurship, repeating the government’s intention to ensure the success of the national airport’s modernisation, safety, and capacity.
Earlier, Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, noted that the newly built Kano terminal has a capacity of seven million passengers. It is expected to serve the people of Kano, its surroundings, and the country as a whole.
He also stated that the new Airport terminal building has the greatest passenger facilitation amenities and thanked the President for mentioning that the aviation infrastructure to be commissioned includes both soft and physical infrastructure.
Furthermore, he said-
“NCAT has produced 70% of the workforce in civil aviation, pilots to engineers to air traffic controllers, cabin crews to all forms and manners of staff of aviation and they have been serving this country all this while”.
Sirika further stated that NCAT has received most of its training needs during the current administration. This is evidenced by the commissioning of 20 aircraft. Nine of them have been delivered thus far. He also added that the significance of this would cut 50% of the college’s training needs and training funding.
He noted that the outgoing government saw remarkable and upgraded infrastructure in the aviation industry.
The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, praised the President for the tremendous prosperity he has brought to Kano and for pushing Kano to the next level.
According to him, the new Airport terminal building would serve as a gateway to investment and economic strength.
According to Oluseyi Odutayo, the Ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, the projects commissioned include:
- Six Diamond DA 40NG and one DA42NG aircraft
- Magnus aircraft
- an AET school facility
- an Automated fire/smoke aircraft training simulator
- a Boeing 737NG flight simulator.
“Others are Boeing 737NG Full flight simulator, Boeing 737NG integrated procedural trainer, Ultra Modern Auditorium complex, and ATSEP Basic online ICAO Training package.”
cc: Punch Ng
