By Ignatius Okorocha

Senate has called on the federal government to begin the process of upgrading the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, Borno State for international operations.

The Red Chamber, which specifically urged the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management to take urgent action on the matter, mandated its Committee on Aviation for a follow up and report back within eight weeks.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion to that effect by Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) and co-sponsored by 11 other lawmakers across party lines during plenary on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, Senator Ndume described airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, foreign direct investment and socio-economic development of the country.

He, therefore, stressed the urgent need to upgrade the Muhammadu Buhari Airport to an internationally operated airport in the North East with matching equipments like the international runways and tarmacs.

Lamenting that only the North East lacks an international airport among the six geo-political zones, he informed that Borno State borders three countries, namely Chad, Cameroon and Niger, respectively.

“The presence of an international airport in Maiduguri will enhance efficient and effective movement of goods and people from Nigeria and across the world, and reduce excess pressure on the road infrastructure within the zone,” he said.

Senator Ndume, while maintaining that “the total land area of Maiduguri could conveniently accommodate a standard international airport”, said hosting such airport in the state capital “will propel the tourist sector and provide a communication link which is vital between different groups of people involved within the region.”

Senator Ndume while briefing journalists at the end of Senate plenary stressed that upgrading the airport would also attract foreign direct investments, enhance economic development, improve the quality of life of the people in the zone, adding that this would ultimately increase the gross domestic product, GDP of the country.