The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on state governments and private sector stakeholders to collaborate with the federal government in constructing more airstrips to improve connectivity to remote areas.
Speaking at the Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference under the theme “Elevating Nigeria’s Aviation Strategic Trajectory under the Renewed Hope Administration,” monitored by The New Daily Prime. Keyamo stressed the importance of airstrips in accessing remote regions. He urged significant investment in airstrip infrastructure to ensure better travel connections across the country’s rural and remote locations.
As the former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Keyamo highlighted, “Talking about connectivity to remote areas, when we attempt to build airports in areas where there are none, some Nigerians criticize us. They question why build more airports, especially when they seem unprofitable, even for private airstrips.”
Keyamo argued that building airstrips is a necessity and a public service, similar to providing access to clean water. Establishing these facilities in rural areas, he added, would help curb urban migration, explaining that the absence of essential infrastructure and opportunities drives people to move to urban centres.
“The more infrastructure you push into remote areas, the more people enjoy staying there,” Keyamo noted, drawing comparisons to countries like the UK and the US, where even small villages have access to critical infrastructure compared to cities. He also emphasized the importance of airstrips in times of crisis, such as during floods or other disasters, where road access may be impossible, highlighting the role of airstrips in delivering aid, food, and medical supplies.
Keyamo further explained that his ministry prioritizes the construction of airstrips in regions lacking airports. In the South-East, for example, he identified Abia State for an airstrip project, as it remains the only state in the region without one. The initiative in Abia is moving forward, with the state government opting to collaborate on building an international airport instead.
In the South-West, he pointed out that most states already have airports, with ongoing projects in Ekiti and Ogun. The only state left without one is Osun, where a new airstrip is planned for Osogbo.
Keyamo also praised the private sector’s involvement, citing efforts like TY Danjuma’s private airstrip in Taraba and Canaan land’s project in Ogun State. He encouraged other private sector stakeholders to apply for airstrip development, reiterating the need for as many airstrips as possible, whether through federal, state, or private investment.
By Friday Omosola and Dr. Vincent Ajayi
