Upon assuming office, Governor Umaru Bago wasted no time seeking approval to take charge of the airport’s project, which had languished for over 11 years. With swift approval, he immediately awarded the remodeling contract, leading to the completion of the runway and the construction of a new terminal within a remarkable 90 days.
Previously without a passenger terminal, the airport now boasts a fully furnished Domestic Terminal, aptly named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, scheduled for commissioning on March 11th, 2024.
Furthermore, construction of the long-abandoned Hajj Terminal has commenced and is expected to be operational within three months, reviving Hajj operations after a two-year break.
These monumental projects, executed in collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), underscore the commitment to national aviation standards. The construction of Cargo and International Terminals will be completed within 12 months, further strengthening the Airport’s status as a transportation hub.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including an Instrumental Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring Equipment, Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, will now be the alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
This Airport is so important to Governor Umaru Bago’s agricultural revolution program in Niger State. With a functional Airport and a world-class agro-processing zone with an initial capacity of about 2,000 hectares of land where vegetables, fruits, dairy, and other livestock activities will take place, it will be easy to fly agricultural goods anywhere in the world.
Governor Umaru Bago’s ambitious vision for Minna Airport is a great step towards improving the air transport sector and harnessing the economic potential of the state for national development.