FG urges Contractors on completion of Katsina Airport

• Says state government is set to pay compensation to the land owners

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace has called on the contractors handling various projects at Katsina Airport to return to the site and complete the jobs as the state government is set to pay compensation to the land owners.

Permanent Secretary Dr Emmanuel Meribole made the call while welcoming the Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, in his office in Abuja at the weekend.

Meribole disclosed that there are eight projects at the airport, some of which include: the expansion of the existing airport apron, fire truck building, new terminal, cargo terminal, and fire truck maintenance and refurbishment.

The Permanent Secretary, therefore directed that the contractors move to the site immediately, adding that issues concerning compensation and squabbles between the military and civilian land space were being addressed.

Meribole lauded the state government for collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure the take-off of the Katsina airport project, stressing that his efforts at solving the challenges hindering the commencement of work after the groundbreaking ceremony that took place some months back are yielding positive results.

He revealed that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace on its part was in talks with the Chief of Air Staff on the issue of land secession between the civilian and military space of operation.

He however appealed to the Governor to strengthen talks further with the Chief of Air Staff on the matter.

The Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda commended the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for finding it fit to take such projects to Kastina as well as the Aviation Ministry for its innovations.

Radda announced that approval has been given for the payment of land compensation to all the landowners to ease the completion of the projects.

He called on the contractors to swiftly move to the site assuring them that he will not relent on his efforts until the projects are completed.