Yobe Airport assures safety and security measures, seeks operational approval
The Yobe State Government wants the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to grant the recently commissioned Yobe Cargo International Airport a one-year permit for scheduled flights.
The airport, commissioned by former President Buhari in January 2023, has yet to see regular operations due to minor safety and security corrections mandated by NCAA inspectors.
In a chat with reporters in Lagos at the Airport Business Summit and Exhibition, ABSE in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Energy, Dr. Mustapha Gaidam said, “by God’s grace, the Governor has directed us to urge the NCAA to grant us a one-year provisional permit to commence operations, whether for Hajj or non-scheduled flights. We want the airport to be functional.”
On safety and security measures, Dr. Gaidam emphasized the airport’s safety and security measures saying, the airport located 22 kilometers from Damaturu, the state capital, boasts a dedicated security presence and is well-patrolled by staff.
The Permanent Secretary stated that, the airport’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, including the longest runway in Nigeria (6.6 kilometers) and world-class navigational aids like ILS and DVOR.
“One of the installers remarked that only the Damaturu International Airport has this kind of equipment, it’s the most modern he’s seen, comparable to Dubai’s airport.” Yobe State, known for its agricultural production and livestock, is actively seeking investors to capitalize on the airport’s potential.
“We’re inviting investors interested in building warehouses, storage facilities, or fuel farms,” adding, the government is prepared to offer free land for any agro-allied businesses. The airport’s strategic location near borders with Nigeria and Cameroon further enhances its appeal for cargo and distribution businesses.
Dr. Gaidam acknowledged past security concerns in the northeast but assured potential investors that the situation has significantly improved. He clarified, “Insurgency has drastically reduced and is now concentrated in the northwest”.
