The Federal Government has said the Wachakal airstrip, Nguru, Yobe State, is 85 per cent completed. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, stated this during a test flight on the airstrip recently.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Aerodrome Development, Clement Awogbami, said despite the inflations that caught up with the project, which led to its review, coupled with challenges of limited resources, the Federal Government started the project about a year ago and, a significance progress has been recorded.
According to him the design for the airstrip is expected to have Doppler Very High-Frequency Omni Range (DVOR) equipment to guide aircraft coming into the runway.
However, he added that because of the foreign component involved in its manufacturing, it will take some time to acquire it and would be installed as soon as it’s delivered.
“We are hoping that the DVOR will be installed in the next three months. Once that is done, then the airstrip will be officially ready for use,” he said.
While stating the economic benefits of the project, he said: “This type of project is designed for the purpose of security; it will enhance security surveillance, it will also aid VIP movement, assist in medical evacuation in case of emergency and also for agricultural purposes. It is expected that the project, when ready and in use, will contribute to the country’s GDP.”
The Emir of Nguru, Mustapha Ibn Mai Kyari, expressed gratitude to the government for the project. He said the project would boost the economy of the community and also reduce the unemployment rate among youths.
On his part, the Vice Chairman of Karasuwa Local Government, Hassan Daliru, thanked the former Senate President, and the Federal Government for attracting development to the State.
He said: “This airstrip was not in existence some years ago but with the effort of the former Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, we now have this project that will be completed soon. We hope to see more infrastructural development in our State.”
