22nd January, 2024
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has expressed concern over alleged plans by the Federal Government to relocate an ongoing project at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport (UMYIA), Katsina, to another part of the country.
Mr Bishir Dauda, the National Secretary of Voice of the Masses, expressed the decision while addressing newsmen in Katsina on Sunday.
Dauda said the civil society organisations took the decision as an “unfortunate, deliberate, malicious and subversive” attempt by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo.
The project, awarded to Avsatel Communication Limited on Dec 7, 2022, was to refurbish Airport Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles (ARFF) of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, Katsina.
Dauda said: “It is important to note that this contract was awarded, with down payment, during the last administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari”. He noted that the gigantic project would have tremendous economic benefits to the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Adding, he said, “Hence, these organisations consider the harmful and retrogressive action of relocating this vital project from Katsina to another part of the country for a flimsy reason, as an attempt to shortchange the good people of Katsina state, who massively voted for the President.
“At least If we don’t deserve any reward for voting APC into power, we should not be punished by Keyamo who did not contribute in mobilising hundreds of thousands of Katsina people to vote for Tinubu.
“We the people of Katsina state cherish the international airport because it is very strategic in actualising the development dreams of our forefathers.”
“We will not also take any attempt to undermine it lightly. What is good for the goose is good for the gander . If Lagos, Bayelsa or Enugu states need a world class airport then why not Katsina state”?
He, therefore, called on Gov. Dikko Radda, Katsina elders, and all patriotic sons and daughters of Katsina to further convey our message to the president, the outright rejection of the decision.
He said “the decision of the minister is meant to retard the development of the state, therefore, we anticipate that the president, as a listening leader, will do the needful by reversing the subversive action of his minister”.
(NAN)