Keyamo Flags Off Kogi International Airport, Says Project Will Put State on Global Aviation Map
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has joined the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, to officially flag off the construction of the Kogi International Airport at Zariagi, declaring that the landmark project will place the state on the global aviation map and open up new frontiers of economic opportunities.
According to Tunde Moshood, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications who made this known in a press release, Keyamo was accompanied by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, and other top aides who participated in the historic ceremony alongside the Governor, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, other dignitaries and the immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Edward David Onoja.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ododo described the airport project as a strategic investment in the economic future of Kogi State, emphasising its potential to unlock the state’s enormous agricultural and solid mineral resources for local and international markets.
He noted that Kogi State possesses immense economic potential which, if properly harnessed, could position it as a major contributor to Nigeria’s export economy. He explained that the airport would provide a significant boost to the transportation of agricultural produce and mineral resources, attract investors, stimulate commercial activities and create employment opportunities for the people of the state.
He further highlighted the airport’s capacity to facilitate the movement of people and goods, strengthen connectivity, attract new businesses and accelerate the development of supporting infrastructure across the state.
In his remarks, Keyamo described the flag-off as a historic milestone whose significance would endure for generations.
“What is happening here today, what the Governor has done today, will resonate many, many years, centuries after today, 500 years from today. Do you understand the significance of what is happening here today? Let me tell you the significance. Today, as from today, this village called Zariagi will be on the Global Aviation Map,” the Minister declared.
He explained that every recognised airport around the world is identified through a global aviation coding system, noting that the establishment of the airport would give Zariagi international visibility within the aviation community through the relevant identification and coding processes of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to him, the project represents a significant step in putting Kogi State on the global aviation landscape and connecting it to the wider world.
The Minister attributed the possibility of the project to the combination of the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo’s vision and determination to translate available resources into meaningful development.
He maintained that the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, have increased allocations accruing to subnational governments, thereby providing states with greater fiscal capacity to undertake critical infrastructure projects.
Keyamo noted that increased revenue alone was not sufficient to guarantee development, stressing that purposeful leadership and the ability to identify and invest in strategic projects were equally important.
“However, it takes two to tango. One, the positive policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vision of the Governor. These are the two things that combined to make this thing possible today,” he said.
Addressing critics who have questioned the rationale behind establishing an international airport in Kogi State, the Minister argued that infrastructure development must sometimes precede the arrival of major investors and commercial establishments.
He explained that waiting for international companies, luxury hotels and other major businesses to establish their presence before building an airport would amount to putting the cart before the horse.
According to him, an airport is not merely a response to existing economic activities but a strategic catalyst capable of attracting those activities in the first place.
“If you are waiting for the best international companies to be here, the best international hotels to be here before you put an airport, you wait for the next one million years, it will not come. It is the airport that attracts these developments. The airport is the precursor. The airport is the forerunner. The airport is the indicator of development,” Keyamo stated.
He added that the Kogi International Airport would provide the foundation for increased investment, improved accessibility and the emergence of new economic opportunities that could transform the state in the years ahead.
The Minister’s remarks also highlighted the importance of aviation infrastructure in connecting resource-rich communities to markets, investors and international trade networks.
Kogi State is endowed with substantial solid mineral deposits, including iron ore, limestone, coal, marble, dolomite, feldspar, kaolin, gypsum, talc and other commercially valuable minerals. The state’s agricultural potential, particularly in the production of crops such as cassava, rice, maize, cashew and palm oil, further strengthens its prospects for expanded trade and export-oriented economic activities.
With improved air connectivity, the state stands to benefit from enhanced movement of investors, business executives, technical experts and tourists, while the airport could support the development of cargo logistics and other aviation-related services, subject to the facilities and operational capacity provided.
Following his address, the Minister joined Governor Ododo in performing the foundation-laying ceremony, formally signalling the commencement of the airport project.
The flag-off marks another significant step in the Kogi State Government’s infrastructure development drive and its ambition to leverage aviation as an instrument of economic diversification, investment attraction and sustainable prosperity.
The Minister commended Governor Ododo for his foresight and commitment to positioning Kogi State for greater economic relevance, expressing optimism that the project would deliver lasting benefits to present and future generations.
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