FG takes over Gombe Airport
…..assures safety, standardisation
Chima Azubuike
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria on Thursday took over the operations of Gombe Airport.
Disclosing this shortly after undertaking inspection of major areas of around the Airport, the Managing Director of FAAN Captain Rabi’u Yadudu, said its operatives visit to heralded the smooth takeover of operations.
Yadudu disclosed that it direct involvement in the runnings of the facility would ensure improved services, adding that security would be beefed in Gombe Airport to protect travellers.
He said, “We will handle the management and maintenance of this particular facility. We are here to takeover full control of management of the facility on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is part of our routine assessment anytime we are taking over an Airport, what we just went around to do was to assess the status of the facilities primarily the run ways, parking area and critical service such as well as Airport fire fighting services which comprise of the personnel and equipment in case of emergency and additionally we went around to the tower which is essentially an NAMA facility and we saw the facility and we are very impressed.”
“We will bring much, better standardisation of safety and security. We have wider reach of professionals. The takeover is now, this is symbolic. When we bring personnel that are properly trained and even when we bring them we try to consider the interest of local communities, anywhere we go we take the local people work with them even those that don’t work with FAAN.
The President directed that we takeover and give this state and the people better,more secured and safer services,” Yadudu added.
On his part, Deputy Governor of Gombe State Manassah Jatau, said the takeover by Federal Government would boost business and help consolidate the state’s gain on ease of doing business.
Jatau said, “We will require more visitors to Gombe by way of increased flights. We are very happy, infact we are too grateful because this has been our desire over the years.”
Commending the Federal Government effort Jatau added, “You know transport is very import to investment, with the Airport thank God the MD has rated us very high so the ease of doing business is not by chance even the environment is number one. Transportation is going to increase and without transportation you can’t invest you need to travel, transport your goods and services. For us the Airport is going to boost the industrial park, International conference centre and other activities in Gombe.”
