From Runway Bats and Cows to International Flights: Welcome to Kaduna Airport
Lekan Paul
Posted On Sep 5, 2017
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At the beginning of every week, I meant at the beginning of Monday of a new week, the Ethiopian Airlines operates three flights from Kaduna to Addis Ababa from which passengers can connect 100 destinations across the world.
You read right! From Kaduna! Yes, Kaduna!!
About 5 years ago, we saw cows and other domestic animals grazing on the supposed terminals.
A few years ago, this would have been just a dream. The kind that social commentators would have aptly described as ‘castles in the sky’.
Within two years, Kaduna State has successfully reversed the fortunes of the Kaduna Airport which had for too long punched below its weight, both in terms of facilities and flight availability.
From the era of bats and cows on the runway to gaining the trust of the federal government in hosting flights while the Abuja Airport was closed, the Kaduna airport has gone a step further with Ethiopian Airlines.
It was reported in one of the news sites that, Kaduna Airport received 189,734 Passengers, 3,273 Aircraft Landings In 6 Weeks.
International flights are a big deal and the fact that Ethiopian Airlines, a renowned carrier that plies a vast network of routes around the globe has begun flights from an airport that had been written off for most part of its existence is mind-blowing.
Echoing Governor Elrufai’s comment during the inauguration of Ethiopian Airlines regular flights from Kaduna, “this move is giving considerable boost to Kaduna’s strategy to anchor growth and development on attracting investments to create jobs, increase internally generated revenues and empower people.
The investment strategy is receiving emphatic support with investment inflows above $300 million in two years amidst two very successful investment summits.
By affirming Kaduna’s position as a major road transport hub, agriculture power house and home to many educational institutions and the state’s efforts in boosting the formal exploitation of its solid minerals endowments and reviving its textiles legacy while becoming a hub for ICT.
The State Government I heard will continue to engage aviation stakeholders to ensure that more local and international flights come to Kaduna.”
While the Kaduna State Government should be commended, it is appropriate to accede some of these milestones to the efforts of the Federal Government in supporting Kaduna Airport’s quest to live up to its potentials.
The state government’s ability to deliver on its promises regarding its airport operations during the Abuja airport hiatus was down to the trust placed in it by the federal government.
This further demonstration of confidence and solidarity by a global carrier is a welcome news. As a regular traveler in and from Nigeria, this sure gladdens the heart.
