Govt'll not reimburse states on airport construction —Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government would only support the state-government constructed airporst and not reimburse generally, as governors were expecting.

The president made this disclosure yesterday, in Dutse, the capital city of Jigawa State, while commissioning the Dutse International Airport adding that 'there are 8 new airports under construction not 7 as said by the Aviation Minister.'

Jonathan explained that 'if I reimburse one state, other states would also ask for the same,' he therefore promised to give reasonable support to Jigawa State government out of over N15 billion spent on the project.

The president reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to ensure airspace safety, through providing effective modern facilities in the country's airports.

'The airport is one of major means of development, presently there are eight new airports under construction across the country and Dutse's inclusive,' he said.

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, in his address said during the president's visit in 2010, he promised to improve the economy of the state through the construction of an airport in the capital city, which led the state government to embark on the project, so that the federal government could reimburse the fund.

Alhaji Sule Lamido noted that the president laid the foundation of the airport about two years ago, 'now you are here to commission the airport.'

Also speaking the minister of Aviation Mr Osita Chidoka described the revolution in the aviation industry as remarkable.

Chidoka said it is a thing of joy for the nation to witness the proliferation of Airport in the Country adding that projects like that use to open door for economic prosperity and social well being of the people by way of reducing by of reducing the rate of unemployment.