The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria on Thursday took over the operations of Gombe Airport.
Disclosing this shortly after undertaking an inspection of major areas around the airport, the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabi’u Yadudu, said its operatives’ visit heralded the smooth takeover of operations.
Yadudu disclosed that its direct involvement in the runnings of the facility would ensure improved services, adding that security would be beefed up in Gombe airport to protect travellers.
He said, “We will handle the management and maintenance of this particular facility. We are here to take over full control of the management of the facility on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is part of our routine assessment anytime we are taking over an airport, what we just went around to do was to assess the status of the facilities primarily the runways, parking area and critical services such as well as airport fire fighting services which comprise of the personnel and equipment in case of emergency.”
“We will bring much, better standardisation of safety and security. We have a wider reach of professionals. The takeover is now, this is symbolic. When we bring personnel that are properly trained and even when we bring them we try to consider the interest of local communities, anywhere we go we take the local people to work with them even those that don’t work with FAAN.”
On his part, the deputy governor of Gombe State, Manassah Jatau, said the takeover by the FG would boost business and help consolidate the state’s gain on ease of doing business.
Jatau said, “We will require more visitors to Gombe by way of increased flights. We are very happy. In fact, we are too grateful because this has been our desire over the years.”
