About 82 passengers including Governor Kashim Shettima and the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Med-View Airline Alhaji Munir Alamin Bankole were among the first set of passengers that flew into Maiduguri International Airport on Friday afternoon marking the resumption of commercial flights at the airport after its closure due to the Boko Haram activities.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has resumed international and local flights at the Maiduguri International Airport, 18 months after its closure by the Military over Boko Haram attacks of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base on December 2, 2013.
Governor Kashim Shettima who among the passengers on board the flight from Lagos to Maiduguri conveyed the joy of Borno people over the resumption of flights at the airport, adding that “full local and international flights, including the airlifting of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will now commence at the airport.
His words: “This bears testimony to the cordial relationship between the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Borno state government. It was quite regrettable for over six million people to been denied flight services, because of the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the North East sub-region of this country.
“Our gratitude goes to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Med-View, Alhaji Munir Alamin Bankole for resuming flights to this airport, 18 months after its closure for any political reason. Flights get in and out of Bagdad, Kabul and Damascus airports, and there was no any other reason for anyone to close this airport for political reason.
“Our intending pilgrims from now will no more travel by road to any of the airports in Gombe, Kano and Bauchi; and to be airlifted for their pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia,” Shettima said. Agency report
