Kogi Airport Stakeholder Engagement: Accelerating Project Progress

By Saadatu Jumai

Following the awarding of the core technical construction contract for Kogi State International Airport Zariagi to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Gamji Nigeria Limited, the State Government has instructed these companies to mobilize their equipment and machinery to the construction site.

To facilitate a conducive environment for the contractors, the Ministry of Transport’s management team, led by Permanent Secretary ESV Baiyegunsi Samuel Taiwo, engaged with community leaders at the Bureau of Land. This meeting aimed to inform them about the commencement of the airport project as directed by the State Government.

In his welcome address, Baiyegunsi emphasized that to prevent delays, Governor Ododo has ordered the immediate deployment of construction equipment and machinery to the site. Consequently, it is essential to notify the communities about the start of construction activities.

He appealed for the communities’ support, assistance, and full cooperation, urging them to maintain cordial relations with the engineers to ensure a peaceful and productive environment.

Furthermore, he tasked the representatives of the host and neighboring communities with communicating this message to their members, ensuring they are informed about the project’s commencement.

Representatives Hon Sule Jimoh of Adavi, Abubakar Momoh of Ehika, and Salihu AbdulMalik of Zariagi expressed their gratitude to the State Government for selecting Zariagi for this transformative project. They commended the state actors for their pivotal roles from the project’s conception to its current phase.

They assured the State Government of the communities’ full cooperation and support to ensure the project’s successful completion.
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‎On behalf of the community, the communities leaders made passionate pleas for safety,security and social welfare, while the contractors go about their business.

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‎Responding on behalf of the state government, Baiyegunsi reassured them of the state government unwavering commitment to provide basic requirements ; boreholes, security, health care facility amongst others to ensure safe haven for the members of the community. He also disclosed that the engineers are advised to engaged the members of the community in the project to enable them contribute their quotas and also significantly benefit from the sterling project.
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