FAAN, Plateau State Government Sign MOU On Jos Airport
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Plateau State Government on the transformation of Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos into a cargo hub.
Delivering her speech at FAAN headquarters, venue of the deal, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku said FAAN and the Plateau State Government, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, “are joining forces to transform the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos into a premier food cargo hub. This is not just about building infrastructure. It is about building dreams, creating opportunities, and unleashing Plateau’s boundless agricultural potential onto the global stage.
This partnership represents everything we believe in; the state government providing financial muscle for facility upgrades, while FAAN delivers professional expertise, guidance and security. It is a blueprint for the kind of collaboration that will drive Nigeria towards President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030.”
Kuku further said “Plateau State stands ready with its rich resources. FAAN stands ready with its expertise, and the markets stand ready for our produce. We invite you to be part of this transformation – to invest in packaging facilities, storage solutions, and transportation infrastructure that will connect our farmers to the world” adding that “today, we’re not just signing an agreement. We are signing a declaration of economic independence for our farmers. We are not just upgrading an airport. We are upgrading dreams. When future generations look back at this moment, they will mark it as the day Plateau State began its ascent to become Nigeria’s premier food cargo hub.”
She also noted that N3.5 trillion worth of food perishes annually in Nigeria while global markets hunger for Nigeria’s produce and that Plateau State has picture breathtaking landscapes where temperate climates nurture crops year-round and that “for years, we have watched farmers toil, producing world-class potatoes, maize, vegetables, and fruits, only to see their hard work wither away due to limited market access. We have witnessed countless meetings, endured broken promises, and faced skeptics who said this day would never come.”
In his remarks, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang said the Jos market is one of the biggest markets in West Africa and that the state will soon onboard an Agro-Processing Zone. He expressed confidence that in the next couple of years, “we shall see this airport yield the desired revenue.”
