President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the construction of an international cargo airport in Kogi State, a project expected to boost trade, attract investment and create employment opportunities.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Kogi International Cargo Airport, located in Zariagi, Adavi Local Government Area, was held on Tuesday, with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, representing the President.

Keyamo said the facility would enhance Kogi State’s access to international markets, strengthen its economic competitiveness and make the state more attractive to investors.

He also defended the decision to embark on the project despite criticisms, arguing that governments must provide critical infrastructure to attract businesses, stimulate economic activities and drive development.

The minister disclosed that the airport was expected to generate between 2,000 and 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents of the state.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said the project would support his administration’s efforts to diversify and expand the state’s economy by improving transportation infrastructure and creating new opportunities for businesses.

He identified agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality as key sectors expected to benefit from the facility, particularly through the easier transportation of agricultural produce to markets within and outside Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Works, Momoh Salami Ozigi, disclosed that the initial phase of the project would involve the construction of a 3,600-metre runway, taxiways, aircraft parking facilities, drainage channels, perimeter fencing and access roads.

According to him, the runway is being designed to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and accommodate large aircraft, including Boeing 747s.

… Construction of Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road begins in earnest too

…Says Enugu opposition clueless, shopping for shortcuts in Abuja

…Insists Enugu electorate would reject certificate forgers

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has declared an emergency on the Nsukka-Adani Road, describing it as a critical economic corridor and promising to commence work on it before the end of the month.

Mbah also said that with the rains receding, his administration would commence the construction of the Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road in earnest.

This was even as he took a swipe at his opponents in the 2027 governorship race, accusing them of wasting precious time in Abuja shopping for shortcuts and ways to compromise the polls rather than face the people of Enugu to canvass programmes that would benefit the state.

He spoke at Adani and Ugbene Ajima during a campaign tour of Ogboli and Igbo-Ano Development Centres in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

On the Nsukka-Adani Road, Mbah said, “We have committed to doing the Nsukka-Adani Road. But I think that that road is now a matter of utmost urgency. We cannot wait for another season. We are sending contractors immediately to that road. We are going to fix that road. So, before the end of this month, we are going to move contractors there,” he pledged.

The Governor, while thanking the people for voting for him in the 2023 governorship election, expressed happiness that the issue of insecurity in the area had been well addressed.

He said the Smart Schools initiative would introduce the children of Enugu State to contemporary skills and prepare them for the present and future global economy.

“We also recognised that there was a crisis in our education sector. So, we set about to build Smart Green Schools because we felt that the world is moving very fast. And we didn’t want our children to be left behind. And we knew that the skills that the kids need today are different from the skills we were exposed to 30, 40 years ago.

“Today, our children need technology to be able to work and to create wealth. So, in this Development Centre, we have four Smart Green Schools and four Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres already built and standing in each ward,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mbah recalled that his opponents were yet to present any manifesto because they had nothing to offer, adding that they only specialised in multiple certificate forgery.

“In fact, they cannot even come here. You know where they are? They are somewhere in Abuja, busy looking for an alternative instead of coming to know you or even talk to you.

“They think that there is a shortcut. So, rather than come and face the people, talk to them about their records and maybe even tell them about their plans, they go about shopping for alternatives to the Lion Building.

“They are unable to face you because, one, they don’t have any record. Two, they don’t have any plans.

“So, their only option is to see whether there are ways they can manipulate your votes or your mandate. But are you going to accept that? Do you have your broom? You must sweep them away and tell them you do not have room for them.

“As I said, we are dealing with people without records because they cannot point to anything they have done in life. Not one. They cannot.

“If they want to be honest, they can tell you about certificate forgery. And if you need experts in that area, you probably need to consult them. But we do not want to expose our kids to such people. We want people with genuine records; people who have worked and created wealth before offering themselves for service. Not people without records and without plans.

“They cannot come out and tell you this is the plan they have for you in your education sector, in your healthcare sector, in your agriculture sector or in the economic sector. Nothing. So, use your brooms, your votes to sweep them away,” he stated.

The Governor also made a stopover at Our Lady Health of the Sick Maternity Hospital (Arụ Ike Ndi Ọya), Adani, where he cleared all the medical bills of patients, running into millions, and also promised to equip the facility to the standard of the state’s Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centre, in addition to providing ultrasound equipment.

In their speeches, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Senator Ikeje Asogwa; Council Chairman of Uzo Uwani, Barr. Chijioke Ezegwu; Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu, Campaign Council, Chief Charlie Mbah; Nollywood star, Rachael Okonkwo (Nkoli Nwa Nsukka), among others, commended the Governor for the tremendous development recorded in the state under his leadership, promising to support the, APC from top to bottom.

They acknowledged that the development challenges he inherited could be solved in three years and a few months, noting that the important thing was that he was delivering on his campaign promises at great speed.

Other stalwarts present include Senator Chukwuka; Deputy DG of Enugu APC Campaign Council, Dr. Dan Shere; House of Representatives candidate for Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency, Hon. Cornelius Onwubuya; Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru; Member representing Uzo Uwani State Constituency, Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme.

Also, Mbah, who was warmly received by the students of Santa Maria Nursery and Primary School, Adani, pledged to construct a classroom block and set up an innovation hub for the school.

The United States Department of State has warned its citizens against travelling to 23 countries classified under its highest travel advisory, Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the warning on Monday in a post on its official Facebook page, explaining that the classification is based on prevailing security conditions and the US government’s limited ability to provide assistance to its citizens in the affected countries.

“Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there. These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason,” the bureau stated.

The 23 countries listed are Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen.

The US Department of State operates a four-level travel advisory system to guide American citizens planning international trips.

Level 1 advises travellers to exercise normal precautions, while Level 2 recommends increased caution. Level 3 urges citizens to reconsider their travel plans, while Level 4, the highest classification, advises against all travel to the affected destinations.

The department urged Americans to consult its official travel advisory website, travel.state.gov/destination, for country-specific security information and updates before making travel arrangements.