Zamfara airport to begin operations in four months – Gov Lawal

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has announced that the state’s airport is nearing completion and is expected to be operational within the next four months.

In an interview with Arise TV aired on Monday, Lawal emphasised the importance of the airport in addressing one of the state’s accessibility.

The governor pointed out the difficulties investors face when attempting to reach Zamfara, noting that the long and perilous journey from Abuja, which takes up to seven hours by road, often deters potential investors from coming to the state.

He said, “With all these issues, there’s no meaningful investor that would drive from Abuja for example, all the way to Zamfara by road, spending seven hours. That’s what I do whenever I come to Abuja or going back to Zamfara. You think it’s something that any investor would do? With all the challenges of insecurity?

“Of course, you need to open up the state. And open up the state means you need to have an airport.

“I am happy to tell you that the airport is near completion. Within the next three to four months, you’ll be able to fly into Zamfara State, and that is the beginning of good things because the state now is accessible.”

Lawal stated that this development will be instrumental in overcoming some of the security challenges that have plagued the state in recent years, particularly with road travel.

“All these issues of insecurity here and there, people travelling by road, fear of being attacked, it will become history,” he said.

The governor also pointed out that improvements have been made on roads to make travel within the state safer.

He said, “When I took over, you cannot travel 200 meters in Gusau capital on a good road. Whenever it rains, everywhere is flooded, go and see now, what we have done in that regard. That also creates employment because it brings about business activities”.

PUNCH Online reported in June 2024 the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, officially unveiled the construction work on the Gusau International Airport in Zamfara.

The airport project was reportedly intended to be a “smart airport” designed to accommodate domestic and international flights in line with the governor’s commitment to rebuilding a new Zamfara that will reclaim its historical role as a commercial hub in northern Nigeria.