By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to begin the process of upgrading the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, Borno State for international operations.
The Red Chamber specifically urged the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management to take urgent action on the matter, mandated its Committee on Aviation for a follow-up, and report back within eight weeks.
The resolutions were sequel to a motion to that effect by Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) and co-sponsored by 11 other lawmakers across party lines.
Presenting the motion, Ndume described airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, foreign direct investment, and socio-economic development of the country.
He, therefore, stressed the urgent need to upgrade the Muhammadu Buhari Airport to an internationally-operated airport in the North-East with matching equipment like the international runways and tarmacs.
Lamenting that only the North East lacks an international airport among the six geo-political zones, he informed that Borno State borders three countries, namely Chad, Cameroon and Niger, respectively.
“The presence of an international airport in Maiduguri will enhance efficient and effective movement of goods and people from Nigeria and across the world, and reduce excess pressure on the road infrastructure within the zone,” he said.
Ndume, while maintaining that “the total land area of Maiduguri could conveniently accommodate a standard international airport”, said hosting such an airport in the state capital “will propel the tourist sector and provide a communication link which is vital between different groups of people involved within the region.”
He added that upgrading the airport would also attract foreign direct investments, enhance economic development, improve the quality of life of the people in the zone, and ultimately increase the gross domestic product, and GDP of the country.
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*Condemns murder of Kaduna corps member
Meanwhile, the Senate has condemned the gruesome murder of a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC member, Chalya Grace Silas by unknown assailants in Kaduna, Senate yesterday condemned the act, charging the federal government to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the citizens.
Chalya, with registration number: KD/23A/4386 was stabbed to death in the early hours of Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in Kaduna when she was said to have gone jogging by the hoodlums who also made away with her phone.
The Senate resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the criminal act sponsored by Senator Napoleon Bali (PDP Plateau South) during the plenary.
Senator Bali, while presenting the motion, said the gruesome murder of the 24-year-old youth corps member threw her mother, siblings, and the NYSC community into mourning mood.
According to him, “The late Chalya was an enthusiastic NYSC member from Langtang Local Government Area of Plateau State full of life and promise, who actively contributed to community development projects during her assignment in Kaduna State.”
He lamented that the deceased “whose dad is late and the only child of her mother, was attacked and fatally stabbed by hoodlums while engaging in her regular morning jog while serving in Kaduna State.”
The lawmaker pointed out that Chalya’s murder “underscores the security challenges faced by our nation and serves as a stack reminder of the urgent need for improved security measures and safeguard the lives and aspirations of all citizens, including the vulnerable individuals like the NYSC members.”
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, expressed sadness over the young girl’s murder.
“The gruesome murder of a girl of just 24 years (is very sad). We should not allow this kind of murder to continue happening in this country. It is therefore important that all our security agencies should be playing their roles to prevent this kind of murder from occurring on our land in the future,” he said.
