By Alhassan A. Bala
It is not doubting the fact that Malam Aminu Kano International Airport is the oldest in Nigeria, Nigerians from different parts of the country use the airport to travel to different parts of the world.
In fact, in the last two decades almost all northern states use the airport for the airlift of their pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The relationship between Kano and North African countries and Arabia countries saw many of flights traveling to Middle- East tipped the airport as the take off one.
It is on record that the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo delibratly abandoned the Aminu Kano International Airport, which is the major cause of its current deteriorating state. Late Yar’adua’s administration had a plan to do something about the airport, but death took him.
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Then came the Jonathan administration; just like Obasanjo delebratly abandoned the airport despite the administration’s plan to renovate international airports across the country. Stella Odua the then minister of Aviation removed Aminu Kano international airport from the list of international airports to be renovated.
Many international airlines announced their decision to suspend landing in Kano, though after a cry out government did some touches in the airport.
The present administration of president Muhammadu Buhari after the appointment of Senator Hadi Sirika as minister of aviation, has, admittedly brought many innovations and changes in the aviation sector, though so far the airport that benefited from all his effort seems to the Nnamdi Azikewe international airport, Murtala Muhammad international airport Lagos, the Port Harcourt international airport in south south and Ikanu Abiam International airport in South east.
Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, in what I can described
as a dilebrate action of the minister since the opening of airports after the covid-19 lockdown remains hanging in the balance.
The airport currently having more people using it, due to the problem of kidnapping along Abuja-Kaduna expressway. Despite that the top government officers who use the airport more do not even care about the state of the airport, though we always compare us with other countries.
It was a funny and pity that in 2019 when a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Gudaji Kazaure while speaking in the floor of the house of representatives demonstrated the practical experience of how it is when you land in Kano airport though at that time he is contributing to the issues of the closure of Abuja airport.
With the current minister of aviation Hadi Sirika who happens to be a pilot and came from Kano state’s neighbouring state Katsina which conincidently must use the Aminu Kano international airport since their state-owned airport is less qualified, it is very surprising that his action and body language shows he doesn’t care about the state at which ones most busies airport in Africa (MAKIA) is currently in.
President Buhari landed in that same airport several occasions but didn’t say anything either.
Both the president and the minister are putting more attention on Nmandi Azikiwe international airport Abuja and Murtala Muhammad international airport Lagos with no single attention to any northern airport.
The deteriorating state of Aminu Kano international airport and also now that only operates domestic will definitely affect the state development as commercial city since roads are no longer safe. Domestic and international investors will also became scared of investing with reference to nonchallant attitude of the government towards infrastructures.
Many will now asked the minister of aviation Hadi Sirika what is the sin of Kano people that in all his works in the aviation Kano is excluded? And to what reason MAKIA is not allowed to receive international flights.
Why is it difficult for him to do something about Kano airport to meet international standard so that international airlines can start landing and taking off from Kano?
It is right time for Notable Kano people to draw the attention of president Buhari on the current state of the oldest airport in Nigeria and the must busy one in northern Nigeria. And show him how important it is to have an international standard airport In the commercial centre of the northern Nigeria.
Alhassan A. Bala balahassan2007, wrote this article from Abuja.
