FAAN, Plateau State sign MoU to make Jos Airport major export hub

The Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, Plateau State, has received a major boost as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Plateau State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to transform it into a major agro-cargo hub.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, signed the MoU at the FAAN headquarters in Lagos.

Kuku described the partnership as a bold response to the staggering loss of N3.5 trillion worth of food annually in Nigeria due to inadequate market access and logistics infrastructure.

Kuku also described the collaboration as a model of the kind of public-sector synergy needed to propel Nigeria toward President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

“This is more than just an agreement. It is a declaration of economic independence for our farmers. Today, we are not just upgrading an airport; we are upgrading dreams,” she said.

The MD FAAN painted a vivid picture of the state’s fertile soils, temperate climate, and generations of hardworking farmers whose produce, world-class potatoes, maize, vegetables, and fruits often fails to reach global markets.

She said the time had come to unlock that potential and give Plateau’s farmers the global stage they deserve.

Under the agreement, the Plateau State Government will provide financial support for the airport’s infrastructure upgrades, while FAAN will offer professional oversight, security, and technical expertise.

She called on investors and stakeholders to seize the opportunity to build supporting infrastructure, such as packaging facilities, cold storage, and logistics networks that will connect Plateau’s rich agricultural output to buyers around the world.

According to her, “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. FAAN is open for business. Plateau is ready to rise. And Nigeria’s agricultural promise is finally taking flight.”

Responding, Governor Mutfwag expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for fostering an enabling environment that allowed this partnership to materialize, acknowledging that the agreement would not have been possible without the President’s endorsement.

He articulated his belief that this collaboration is laying the groundwork for a successful future, anticipating that the upgraded airport will generate substantial revenue and add significant value to Nigeria in the coming years.

Governor Mutfwang pointed to the city’s high hotel occupancy rates and the ongoing reconstruction of the Jos Main Market, once one of West Africa’s largest. He envisions Jos becoming a central commercial hub in Northern Nigeria due to its strategic location bordering several states.

The Governor also mentioned the establishment of the Plateau Commodities Marketing Company last year, designed to serve as an aggregation center for agricultural produce, which he expects to complement the upcoming Special Agro-Processing Zone in partnership with the African Development Bank.

He also disclosed, discussions are also underway for the development of a dry inland port near the airport.