The Niger State government has said it has opened talks with private airline operators with a view to commencing commercial flight operations in the state.
The Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, disclosed this when he inspected the ongoing reconstruction of runway and terminal projects at the airport.
He expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the terminal and said the state government might take over the project for immediate completion.
He said once the terminal repairs are completed, it will set the ball rolling for the state to commence commercial flight operations in the state.
"As a state government, we want to invite the contractor to see how we can intervene and, if possible, take over the job so that we can have a terminal and a functional airport.
"It's our desire to provide commercial flights, and we are talking to some private airline operators to come to Niger State,", he said.
Umaru Bago expressed delight with the quality of the job being done and said he was optimistic the work would be handed over soon.
The contractor handling the runway project assured the governor that he would meet the deadline and that it would soon be ready for operations.
A Passionate appeal has been made to the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, to constitute a commission of inquiry to investigate the endless royal tussle in Doko community of Lavun local Government area of Niger State.
A traditional title holder in the area Alhaji Kudu Mohammed Jiya, made the appeal while speaking during an exclusive interview with Newsline in Minna at the weekend.
He said the constitution of the commission of inquiry into the incessant crisis in the area over the years will bring about the lasting peace and security in Doko and its environs.
Alhaji Kudu Jiya, who is the Sarkin Yaki of Doko land, noted with the dismay the ceasless crisis that had engulfed the once peaceful community over the years, called on the state governor to as a matter of necessity, constitute the commission to ensure peace in the area.
"Setting up the commission of inquiry into this matter, will unravel the whole issues and allegations against the dethroned village head (Dazhi) of Doko.
"The commission of inquiry will also bring about the peace and security in Doko community, hence we are appealing to the governor of Niger State Hon. Umar Bago to set up the commission to settle this crisis in Doko once and for all", he stated.
He called on the state governor to as a matter urgency to constitute the commission of inquiry in ensuring the peace and security of the people of Doko, this according to the traditional title holder will forstall peace in the area.
He disclosed that the dethroned village head has dragged the state government, the Bida Emirate council, the Ministry of Localgovernment and Chieftaincy Affairs and Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney General of Niger State to Minna High Court and he lost the case.
Dissatisfied with the judgement of the Niger State High Court, he went on Appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, yet the court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and that he can only be reinstated after due clearance from the weighty allegations.
"I'm of the opinion that resolving the remaining issues could be prejudicial to any subsequent action the emirate council might want to take on the matter.
It would be recalled that Doko community, has been engulfed in series of lands and royal crisis in the last ten years as all efforts to restore peace in the community has not yielded the needed result.
Several lives and property have been lost to the endless crisis even as some numbers of youths are languishing in both Minna and Bida prisons.
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