The foundation stone for the 6,000 metric tonnes International Cargo Airport was laid on Tuesday at the Asaba International Airport.
While laying the foundation, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State governor, said that it was a clear testimony of President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts towards growing the economy of the rural communities.
According to the Governor at the occasion witnessed by Princess Stella Oduah, former minister of Aviation, aviation experts, top politicians and other government functionaries, the President deserved commendation for working toward developing the rural economy.
Uduaghan noted that President Jonathan has shown commitment towards diversifying the nation’s economy from an economy dependent on oil to an economy that is driven by so many factors.
He disclosed that the cargo airport when functional would move goods, especially; agricultural produce to different parts of the world, noting that it was in line with his administration’s ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative.
“Thank you for selecting Asaba International Airport as one of the cargo international airports in the country, it fits into our Delta Beyond Oil initiative,” the Governor said, adding, “we are glad that our initiative fits into President Jonathan’s programme of empowering the rural farmers.”
He specifically commended the former minister, Princess Oduah for her support towards the development of the Asaba International Airport and assured her that the state government would give all the necessary logistics support for the completion of the cargo airport.
Earlier, the Minister of Aviation had assured that the cargo airport would be completed within six months, disclosing that the cargo airport would ensure the easy movement of agricultural produce to international markets.
Oduah added that the airport was in line with President Jonathan’s transformation agenda that will grow rural economy, stating: “The crops from the rural areas will find their ways into international super markets.”
Furthermore she said: “There will be value chain along the line from packaging, logistics to job creation,” she said, noting, “for every one hectare, ten jobs will be created and the spiral effects will be unimaginable.”