By Jimin Geoffrey
After a long-drawn delay, civil flight operations are set to soon resume at the Military Airport in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
This is sequel to the signing of a “Joint Use Agreement” among the Nigeria Air Force, NAF; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA and Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet.
The ceremony which held at the New Banquet Hall of Benue Peoples House in Makurdi was witnessed by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and other top government officials.
Governor Ortom, in a remark, described the event as epoch-making, stressing that many had wished they had access to the state but couldn’t due to lack of commercial flights and deplorable state of roads.
The Governor who acknowledged the tremendous support of the Nigerian Air Force to the state in areas of security, education, and health, among others, said the stoppage of civil flight operations was due to lack of proper documentation.
Representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Training and Operations Headquarters, Air Vice Marshall James Gwani, said the civil flight operations were part of their corporate social responsibility and civil-military relationship, pointing out that economic and social benefits would be enormous.
Company Secretary and Legal Adviser FAAN, Dr Clifford Omozeghian, representative of the MD-CEO said FAAN management was passionate about the opening of the Makurdi NAF Aerodome for civil operations.
He commended the efforts of the Chief of Air Staff and Governor Ortom towards the actualisation of reopening of the Makurdi NAF Aerodome for civil flight operations, saying it was an expression of sensitivity to the people’s aspirations.
Dr Omozeghian pledged the commitment of FAAN to its responsibilities as stated in the “Joint Use Agreement” to guarantee the development potential of Benue and benefits of users.
Civil flight operations according to him included commercial flights, VIP flights, agricultural flights, airlift of electoral materials and staff members, medical and emergency patients and personnel as well as airlift of relief materials.
Representative of Air Peace, Ayodeji Ayodele said with the signing of the “Joint Use Agreement,” Air Peace would be part of December Flight Schedule in and out of Makurdi.
Director Legal and Secretary NiMet, Mr Ahmed Abdu and Legal Adviser NAMA, Dr Mrs Aver Gbem signed for their agencies respectively.
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