The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has again appealed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika to consider reopening the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano.
He made the appeal when he led a delegation of some members of the House of Assembly, representatives of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and members of the Chambers of commerce to the Minister of Aviation in Abuja.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said his visit to the Ministry was for two reasons, first to show appreciation to the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the International wing of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, and secondly to appeal for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport.
The Governor expressed great concern over the effect of the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport by passengers and service providers.
According to him, the Kano State government had put in place all that was necessary to make the state healthy for flights, including mobilization of the populace for the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Responding, Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika says the continued suspension of international flights into the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano was for health and security reasons.
He acknowledged the hardship to the users of the airport, passengers and service providers alike, and promised that all that was necessary for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport would be fast-tracked to ensure that it resumes sooner than later.
Sirika challenged Kano indigenes to create activities that will make the airport more viable through increased passenger traffic.
He reiterated the desire to open for international flights as the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport was denying the Ministry and its agencies a lot of revenue.
According to Sirika it does not make economic sense for government to spend so much money, as it has done in the airport, and just decided to leave it inoperative with the attendant degeneration on infrastructure, redundancy amongst operational staff, revenue losses, hardship to travellers, amongst others.
