By Abba Dukawa
“One of the swiftest ways of destroying a kingdom is to give preference of one particular tribe over another or show favor to one group of people than another. And to draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near” Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.
I am constrained to write to you this open letter. I decided to make it an open letter because the issue is very weighty and must be greatly worrisome to all concerned Kano people on the continuous closure of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport which is adversely affecting the economy and livelihood of the people of the state.
The data shows number of passengers movements into the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) , according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s Aviation from 2015 to date is greatly declining.
Mr minister, the travailing of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) suffered undue abandoning since OBJ’s administration, or intentional grounding
You know the importance of this airport cannot be over emphasized, as the Kano International Airport is the oldest in Nigeria and the first aircraft landed in Nigeria was in Kano and the airport became an important fuel stop for airlines flying long-haul services between Europe and Africa.
Recently, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made the request before federal government and your office to open and make it fully operational. The non-commissioning of the international wing does not augur well for the state.
So to speak, like you said Kano is your state but the people of Kano never anticipated that under you, the international wing would perpetually remain closed.
Anyway, I need not nag to much since there is a wakeup call from Kano state government and other stakeholders on the abandoning of the Airport, but I need to add more voice as people expressed worry over the continuous closure of the airport while its contemporaries in other parts of Nigeria have resumed operations after the COVID-19 lockdown.
Despite all the goodwill of the people of kano accorded to the administration you are serving, it seems this is the reward Kanawa deserved to have. We never expected seeing each passing day MAKIA remain in its own shadow of its passed lost glory.
The general perception is that the administration is working toward nailing the final stage of destroying the airports to mare domestic Airport.
In spite the MAKIA international wing undergone renovations but has not been commissioned. With the present administration in power, we thought Kanawa would have the justice from the injustice muted on MAKIA by previous administrations by stopping many international airlines serving the airport.
Indefinite suspension services to Kano, adds extra cost of air international travellers from state have to pay as a result of the closure of the airport to foreign airlines and there is need for Federal Government to reconsider the re-opening of the airport, in view of its attendant cost on Ease of Doing Business in the state.
Abba Dukawa writes in from Kano
