Benue State has kicked off the process for the construction of the N36 billion Makurdi cargo airport in , the facilitator has said.
The Managing Director of Pureza Investment International Ltd (PIIL) and facilitator of the project, Barr Brian Mbaya, at the project site along Makurdi – Lafia highway during the ground breaking ceremony, recently, said the airport has the potential of boosting agriculture business in the country.
Pureza, which is a local firm, identifies local investment opportunities and sources for foreign investors and financiers.
Mbaya said his firm, through extensive negotiations and engagements, brought in both financial and technical components with Sino Hydro Corporation of China as the technical component, Dailytrust reports.
According to him, the project, valued at N36 billion, would be completed in 38 months and would be financed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Mbaya further explained that the project was taken from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) policy of 2013 which designated certain airports for cargo handling with the Makurdi airport strategically situated within the agro belt of Nigeria as well as the state being the food basket of the nation.
He said Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, being a former minister of state, Aviation, knew the importance of the project and is supporting its actualisation due to its immense economic advantages.
