Dutse airport records zero patronage …Airport not wasteful exercise —General manager

The N11.5 billion Dutse international airport commissioned in 2014 during the administration of former Governor Sule Lamido is currently wasting away as airlines have shunned the airport.

This is just as the state government has dismissed the notion that the establishment of the airport was a wasteful exercise, stating on the contrary, that the existence of the airport had brought development and helped in decongesting the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport during the annual hajj exercise which gave Borno and Yobe States alternatives during the insurgency of Boko Haram.

According to the latest information gathered by Tribune Aviation, currently, commercial flight operations into the airport is zero as the only domestic airline that used to operate there, Overland Airways has since cancelled operations to the airport.

Recall that the airport which was mainly built by the then Lamido government which was meant to open up the state to the world, and make trade and other businesses, including movement of farm produce more convenient, has more or less become an abandoned project due to zero patronage.

When contacted for his reaction, the acting General Manager of the airport, Alhaji Yunusa Abubakar Umar, while describing the airport as one of the best in terms of facilities and international standard, however, identified absence of flight operations to the airport as its only challenge.

Confirming that the airport was currently suffering from absence of commercial activities, the general manager added that throughout this year, there has been no commercial flight into the airport.

According to Umar, since the memorandum on of understanding signed by the government of Lamido with Overland Airways in 2014, the airline was the only airline that had ventured into the airport for two years except during the usual hajj exercise.

Speaking on why Overland Airways stopped operations to the airport, the acting general manager declared: “Lack of passengers and poor patronage made the airline abandon the airport. After the expiration of the MoU between Jigawa State government and Overland Airways, the company recorded loss forcing it to cancel operations to Dutse airport.”

“Presently, there is no any commercial flight operating to our airport. It is only charter flights that have been coming to the airport since the Overland contract with the state government expired.”

Umar while advising the government to ensure the initial purpose of making the airport a cargo airport was achieved, added: “It could be a very good opportunity for the state and famers of the region in line with the present administration’s policy of diversification and desire for improved farming activities and promotion of export”.