Taraba plans airport, others in Mambilla Plateau

IN a move to make the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Council of Taraba State, a world tourism centre, the government has concluded plans to construct an airport in the area.Governor Danbaba Suntai said the decision to build the airport was essentially aimed at transforming the area, which he noted, had in the past been relegated to the background.Suntai, who made the pronouncement yesterday in Gembu, the administrative headquarters of the local council, during a thanksgiving service held in honour of the sons and daughters of the community, said his administration had also concluded plans to construct a 2.5-kilometer runway on the Mambilla.The thanksgiving service, which took place at the Mambilla Baptist Convention of Nigeria located in Gembu, brought together sons and daughters of the community from far and near.According to Suntai, the potential scattered in the Mambilla would best be exploited with better access in terms of solid road networks and air travels, hence the urgent need for government's intervention.Though the roads between Bali and Nguroje, which lead to the council, as noticed by The Guardian, are Trunk A roads, the governor said his administration is ready and willing to commence work on them if the Federal Government 'would permit us.'Believing that the road and airport, if constructed, would attract tourists thereby increasing the revenue base of the state, his administration, he reiterated, would work tirelessly round the clock to ensure the quick completion of the projects.Some of the sons and daughters of the community, including Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Gebon Timothy Kataps and the House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Abel Peter Diah, said the projects, if completed, would go a long way in transforming the community.Kataps admonished private organisations to tread the path of patriotism by 'coming here to invest in tourism. As you have earlier rightly observed, the Obudu Cattle Ranch we are hearing about is a child's play compared to what we have here in Mambilla.'Corroborating Kataps, the Deputy Speaker admonished private organisations to collaborate with the state government by 'investing in tourism sector here in this state', adding that 'doing that would not only increase the revenue base of this state but also of the country at large.''If that is urgently done, I also believe that the problem of unemployment would be drastically reduced because most of our idle youths would be engaged'.
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