Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has flagged off the construction of a cargo airport at Dauda in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said the project would be beneficial to rural farmers, boost agricultural activities and reduce post-harvest losses, because it will provide an easier platform for faster transportation of farm produce from the state to markets abroad.

He added that the government expects that the project would attract industries, power plants, estates and other economic activities in the area.

“This project, when completed, will serve as a direct connection to the world’s economic powers and provide opportunity for the international community to have direct and easy access to our local produce,” governor Ortom said.

“We are partnering Cargopolis Development Consortium, CDC, to build this airport because the Nigerian Air Force have refused to share their Makurdi terminal with us for the construction of a cargo wing.

“The flagging off of this project has put shame on the faces of the opposition elements in the state who have chosen to see nothing good in the APC-led administration in the state,” he added.

A representative of CDC, Robert Orya, explained that the company had signed a 25 year concession agreement with the government to construct and manage the airport.

Orya explained that the airport has a completion deadline of 18 months, and under the agreement, 15 people from Benue State would be trained as pilots by the CDC.

Emmanuel Manger, Commissioner for Works and Transport in Benue state, noted that the airport would have a general cargo warehouse and cold store, and was designed to meet international standard.