Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has said his administration is on course to transform Dutse International Airport into a cargo hub, following approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to begin installation of cargo facilities.
He disclosed on Sunday during a routine facility inspection and calibration mission at the airport conducted by a technical team from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
This is contained in a statement by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Namadi and made available to newsmen on Monday in Dutse.
Speaking while interacting with the NAMA team, Namadi described the inspection as a significant step toward ensuring that the airport operates in line with global aviation best practices. “Today is an important day for us in our efforts to ensure that all airport facilities in Jigawa State operate in accordance with best practices.
“We have been in discussions with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and they have already granted us approval to begin installing cargo facilities at the airport, in preparation for the full launch of the cargo airport.
“Today, we can proudly say that this is one of the best airports in Nigeria. We will continue to uphold this standard”, he added.
He commended the airport management for what he termed a proactive commitment to safety, particularly through the ongoing calibration of navigational equipment.
Earlier, Jim Hassan, the NAMA team leader, explained that the visit was specifically to inspect navigational aids and ensure compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
He said that after ground checks, the team would carry out flight calibration to assess equipment performance and certify optimal operations.
