The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the Federal Government’s takeover of the Yobe International Cargo Airport, describing the decision as a strategic intervention that could transform the North-East into a major agricultural, livestock and commercial export hub.
The association also urged Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to invest part of the billions of naira expected as reimbursement for the airport project in agriculture, commerce, water supply, rural infrastructure and other critical sectors.
KACRAN National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello, who made the commendation in a statement, described the President’s approval of the takeover and reimbursement of the state government’s investment as a significant step towards national economic development.
He also applauded the National Assembly for approving the promissory note for the reimbursement, expressing optimism that Federal Government ownership would accelerate the airport’s full operationalisation as an international cargo hub.
According to Bello, the facility would serve not only Yobe State but the entire North-East, neighbouring countries and the wider business community by providing an efficient channel for transporting agricultural produce, livestock products and manufactured goods to domestic and international markets.
He credited former Yobe State Governor and Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, with initiating the airport project, while commending Governor Buni for sustaining its construction despite the enormous financial demands.
The KACRAN president described Buni’s decision to transfer the facility to the Federal Government as an act of patriotism and statesmanship, reflecting his commitment to regional and national economic development.
Bello noted that the airport’s economic importance extended beyond aviation, as it could stimulate investments in agriculture, livestock processing, fisheries, mining and other commercial activities across the region.
He listed sesame seeds, gum arabic, beans, groundnuts, grains, vegetables, fruits, cattle, sheep, goats and fisheries products among the commodities that could be exported through the facility.
He particularly advocated the establishment of modern, internationally certified halal meat processing and export centres to enable the region to move beyond the traditional sale of live animals to exporting processed beef, mutton and goat meat.
Such facilities, he said, would provide access to lucrative markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia while creating investment opportunities in abattoirs, cold-storage facilities, dairy industries, food processing and logistics.
Bello added that the airport could strengthen regional economic integration by positioning Damaturu as a commercial gateway serving Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states, as well as neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
He said its full operation would generate employment across agricultural and livestock value chains, increase foreign exchange earnings, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.
The association also linked the airport project to the North-East Development Commission’s planned deployment of more than 10,000 electric tricycles, taxis and buses across the region.
It commended the NEDC Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali; Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Dr Garba Iliya; and other management officials for organising sensitisation workshops on electric vehicles across the six North-East states ahead of the planned deployment.
On the expected reimbursement to Yobe State, Bello appealed to Governor Buni to channel part of the funds into expanding agricultural production, particularly in communities with significant potential for commercial food production.
He cited Machina Local Government Area’s capacity for beans production and Gaidam’s potential for onions and other food ingredients, urging the state government to strengthen agricultural investments to promote food security and export opportunities.
He also called for the development of modern markets to stimulate commercial activities, generate employment and strengthen the state’s economy.
Other priority areas identified by KACRAN include the provision of solar-powered boreholes in grazing reserves and pastoral communities, planting of about 10,000 economic and mango trees, and construction of rural roads connecting farming communities to Damaturu and the cargo airport.
The association further urged the state government to increase investment in education, healthcare, security, youth and women’s empowerment, small-scale industries and accessible soft loans for traders, business owners and pastoralists.
Bello also called on other North-East states to identify their competitive agricultural and industrial products, invest in processing facilities and maximise the opportunities offered by the cargo airport to expand regional exports.
He stressed that coordinated efforts among the six states would be essential to unlocking the airport’s economic potential, strengthening regional integration and increasing the North-East’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth.
