The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano has been designated as cargo terminal as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to transform the aviation sector, under the leadership of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah.
This strategy is included in the Aviation Master Plan, which includes upgrade and development of dilapidated infrastructures, reformation of institutions, as well as the transformation of key airports into a network of domestic and international hubs.
The transformation of MAKIA into a cargo airport will help raise the bar, by transforming it into a major cargo export hub.
It will also help to develop the nation’s cargo export potentials, since a lot of perishable agricultural products emanate from the Kano axis.
The move will also help to diversify Nigeria’s economic drive to a multi-pronged one, as against an oil and gas driven economy.
MAKIA is one of 11 newly remodeled terminals under the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
The Ministry of Aviation is working with other agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Nigerian Export and Import Bank to ensure the workability of the cargo export development project.
The development of cargo terminals will help to generate more employment, help to empower the farmers, reduce waste and generate wealth for the entrepreneurs, which will help to raise the gross domestic product of the nation’s economy, a statement by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria said on Wednesday.