The Federal Executive Council has approved the concession of the Kashimbila Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport in Taraba State, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The project, which spans agriculture, water resources, and aviation sectors, has been approved under the guidance of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission. It involves upgrading the Kashimbilla airstrip into a Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport, and includes over 3,000 hectares of farmland, fish farming facilities, and a livestock ranch.
In a statement released on Friday, Ifeanyi Nwoko, the Acting Head of Media and Publicity, shared that the project aims to boost Nigeria’s agricultural export potential.
Director General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the swift approval and highlighted the project’s swift completion in six months, fulfilling the President’s directive to accelerate PPP project procurements.
Ewalefoh explained that the Kashimbila project involves the concession of 3,000 hectares of land for irrigation farming, the upgrade of the airport for agro-cargo services, and the creation of an aerotropolis and Free Trade Zone with business parks, logistics hubs, and residential areas.
He noted that the project, located in Taraba State, is aimed at enhancing agricultural logistics, improving market access, and stimulating economic growth.
Ewalefoh outlined several benefits of the project, including increased agricultural productivity through year-round irrigation farming, job creation, investment attraction in agribusiness, and boosted local and national economies through trade and exports.
He added that regional integration will improve as Taraba State gains access to both national and international markets, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created.
The project is expected to generate N4.1 trillion in revenue during the concession period. Ewalefoh also expressed appreciation to the ministries involved in the successful inter-agency collaboration, which aligns with the President’s renewed hope agenda.
