(Abba Yusuf and others during the 40th Executive Council Meeting. Photo Credit: Punch News)
Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has announced plans to start a state-owned commercial airline in order to provide jobs for native people who have finished their professional pilot training.
The governor revealed this at the 40th Executive Council Meeting, which took place at Government House in Kano.
There, he was given several honors, including one from the Kano State Pilot Association for his dedication to helping association members finish their aviation training.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa.
Speaking at the meeting, Yusuf said the proposed Kano Airline is expected to commence operations within the next year, adding that his administration is committed to providing all necessary support to ensure the project is actualised and successfully run.
The governor made the announcement after receiving several awards, including one from the Kano State Pilot Association in recognition of his administration’s support for members of the association in completing their aviation training.
He also expressed satisfaction with the performance of Kano-sponsored pilots who underwent training in Jordan under a programme initiated by a previous administration.
Describing himself as impressed by the outstanding performance of the state’s young pilots and pledging continued support to create opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to the development of the aviation sector.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Kano State Pilot Association, Naziru Ibrahim, commended the governor for facilitating the revalidation of members’ flying licences, appreciating his continued support in that regard.
He appealed for further assistance to enable members obtain their final certifications, which would qualify them to operate commercial flights both within Nigeria and internationally.