Ortom: Benue airport is manna from heaven, we won’t spend N1 on it

Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, says the state will not bare the cost of building a cargo airport worth N38bn.

Speaking with state house correspondents after the national economic council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, Ortom described the project as “manna from heaven” that would spur development in the state.

He also described critics of the project, which will be sited at Dauda Guma local government area, as ignorant, explaining that Cargopolis Development Consortium (CDC), a new player in the construction industry, had already provided N5.7 billion and was now waiting for the Chinese  EXIM Bank to make its 85 percent contribution.

He said the money would also be used for other infrastructural projects in the state.

“There is going to be housing estate, road construction, dualisation of the road from Lafia to Makurdi to Otupko and Ninth Mile, there is going to be training school and several other things that would support the airport,” he said.

“Of course there is going to be industries that would be processing our primary products whether finished or semi finished products as the case.

“Those expressing reservations are doing so out of ignorance or mischief. It is a straight forward matter. Before I came in as governor, I went round the state and campaigned and I told my people that government alone cannot provide the needed dividends for our people.

“From my background as a former minister of trade and investment, I know that whatever the support my state would get is through public private participation because globally it is the private sector that is driving the economies of the world. I told them I was going to replicate the same.”

The governor expressed optimism that Benue would become the hub of West Africa when the airport is completed.

“The cargo airport is purely a private initiative by a consortium, Benue state government is not going to pay N1. How can I go to construct an airport when I can’t pay salaries as at when due? There is no need for that. But it is going to be a hub for the entire West Africa, lifts cargo especially agricultural produce to other parts of the world,” he said.

“This consortium has arranged a funding of this project and because we are providing the enabling environment and providing land, they have also offered the state government 15 per cent equity. But the 15 per cent equity contribution has been arranged by this same consortium, government is not paying N1. The payment will only come when the project is completed and out of our diligence, we will pay back within a secured period. And the concessional agreement is for 25 years and then we shall renegotiate.

“So to me, this is manna from heaven and we have well received it back home in the state. And to those who are expressing reservations saying we are spending money, the question is where is the money to spend? And so we are very committed to the project, we are providing the enablement, the community where this airport is to be sited have accepted the request and are over excited.

“And the N38 billion is not just going to be for cargo airport, it is going to provide a chain of projects that would really promote the economy of the state. There is going to be housing estate, road construction, dualisation of the road from Lafia to Makurdi to Otupko and Ninth Mile, there is going to be training school and several other things that would support the airport. Of course there is going to be industries that would be processing our primary products whether finished or semi finished products as the case.”