The agreement which is part of the Public -Private-Partnership programme of the Gov. Samuel Ortom administration, followed series of meetings between the Benue State Government and Aerotropolis Development Company.
The MOU stipulates that the concessioning period will be twenty five years with the cost of N37,898 billion, while the Benue State Government is to provide one thousand hectares of land in addition to N5,284,700 billion as equity contribution, representing 15% of the total cost of the project.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Michael Gusa signed on behalf of the State Government while the Legal Adviser to Aerotropolis Development Company, Barrister Comfort Chigbue, signed on the company’s behalf.
The State Government team also had the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Terwase Orbunde, Commissioner for Works, Transport and Energy, Emmanuel Manger, Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, Special Adviser on Lands, Prof Jonathan Uever, Special Adviser on Economic Investment, Dr Bem Melladu, Special Adviser on Development Cooperation, Dr Mrs Magdalene Dura and the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Mr Stephen Amase.
On the side of Aerotropolis Development Company were Dr Daniel Tarka, Dr Steve Bassen, Dr Aisha Lemu, Barrister Comfort Chigbue, Barrister Lara Adeoye and Mr Ike Onazi.
It will be recalled that Governor Ortom, while speaking recently on the planned Makurdi Airport, said when completed, the airport would add immense value to the economy of the state as it will open new frontiers of trade particularly exportation for the people of Benue and neighbouring states.
In another development, Governor Ortom, Tuesday charged communities to join the Federal Government’s current crusade against corruption by refusing to celebrate those whose source of wealth was questionable.
He gave the charge when he visited the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu in Abuja.
The Governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the fight against corruption and enjoined communities to begin to question the source of wealth of their members who suddenly become rich rather than celebrating them as was the present case.
He noted that with that kind of support and the collaboration of all patriotic Nigerians the war against graft would be won.
Governor Ortom expressed appreciation to the Commandant General for what he described as the value his organisation has added to the provision of security in the state and requested that more indigenes should be considered in subsequent recruitment exercises of the outfit.
The Commandant General, Muhammadu, stated that Benue was among the states that were providing support for the NSCDC to deliver on its mandate and promised to reciprocate the gesture at every opportunity.
He advocated the deployment of cutting edge technology such as biometric verification of staff to curb corruption and the incidence of ghost workers in the country.
Governor Ortom also visited the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and his Environment colleague, Hajia Amina Mohammed during which he advocated synergy between states and federal ministries for quality service delivery to the people in all sectors.
Both Ministers assured of more engagement with the state to help convert challenges into opportunities.
