Kebbi airport remains open as Govt. offsets N33m debts

Posted by Sade Williams  

The Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital, remains open to flight operations, following agreements with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over an estimated N33 million debts, the state Commissioner for Works and Housing, Abubakar Chika Ladan disclosed on Monday.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN had concluded plans to close down the Kebbi state owned airport over debts owed the organisation on Monday midnight.

It was gathered that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA was also prepared to issue a Notice To AirMen (Notam) to all airlines from flying into the airport as from midnight Monday when FAAN is expected to withdraw its services at the airport

FAAN was to begin a gradual withdrawal of its personnel beginning with all it’s fire service and security personnel from the airport.

Ladan, who spoke to our correspondent said ” I can confidently inform you that the airport will not be shut as the state government has been in talks with FAAN, we have resolved all the grey areas and arrived at an amicable resolution going forward’.

He added that there was misinformation regarding the actual amount of debt profile but both parties were able to reach agreement regarding our payments”.

Ladan assured airlines that they should make arrangements to fly passengers desiring to visit the state into the airport as there are no hindrances to their operations.