Niger State Government has announced a N5 billion seed fund for the construction of classrooms and hostels to revive the aviation mini campus at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made this known when he received the management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Zaria at the airport during their visit.
Governor Bago explained that the project is aimed at reducing the cost of sending students abroad to study aviation-related courses. He said, “When this project is completed, it will cut down the travel expenses incurred in sending our children abroad for aviation studies.”
The governor, popularly known as the farmer governor, said his administration is committed to making the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna a centre for aviation and agriculture.
He appreciated the visiting team for their collaboration, noting that his government is ready to partner with relevant institutions to drive growth in education and agro-business.
Earlier, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Zaria, Dr Danjuma Adamu Ismail, commended the Niger State Government for remodelling the airport to meet global standards. He said the College has maintained a long-standing relationship with the state government, which led to establishing a mini campus at the airport.
Dr Ismail stated, “Reviving the campus will strengthen our partnership with the state government and will have a significant impact on personnel training and expertise, particularly in agro-aviation business.”
He noted that the College of Aviation, which was established in 1964, has expanded into six schools, including flight, air traffic control, aeronautical telecommunications engineering, airport emergency training, and aircraft aviation management.
The management team from the College of Aviation was later taken round the aviation fuel depot and housing unit within the airport premises. Governor Bago disclosed that the housing unit will be demolished and replaced with a more modern facility to address the housing deficit and support the airport’s future development.