Gov Ortom says N38bn cargo airport is private sector-driven

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has revealed that his government is not spending any mone on the proposed N38 billion cargo airport in the state, saying the project is solely a private sector initiative.

Vanguard reports that Ortom, who gave the clarification following criticisms that he was embarking on a huge project that had no direct impact on the majority of the people of the state amid economic recession, said the state government would only provide land for the project.

Vanguard reports that the governor, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, yesterday, appealed to the people to show understanding as he was making effort to reposition the state, stressing that the opportunity was like manna from heaven.

He said: “Those expressing reservations are doing so out of ignorance or mischief. It is a straight forward matter. Before I came in as governor, I went round the state and campaigned and I told my people that government alone cannot deliver the needed dividends to our people.

“The N38 billion is not just going to be for cargo airport. It is going to provide a chain of projects that would really promote the economy of the state. There is going to be housing estate, road construction, dualisation of the road from Lafia to Makurdi to Otupko and Ninth Mile.

“There is going to be a training school and several other things that would support the airport. Of course, there are going to be industries that would be processing our primary products, whether finished or semi-finished.

“To me, this is manna from heaven. We are providing the enabling environment. The community where this airport is to be sited has accepted the request and are over-excited.”

Source: Vanguard