Jonathan Commissions Tafawa Balewa Airport, Specialist Hospital In Bauchi

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in Bauchi inaugurated the newly constructed Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, saying the federal government would provide its Hajj and cargo terminals.

He also commissioned the newly built Bauchi Specialists Hospital, which he said was capable to handle special health cases that used to be taken out of the country for foreign medical attention.

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport was built by Governor Isa Yuguda to provide international gateway for export and Hajj operations.

President Jonathan who commissioned the airport as soon as he arrived the state at about 2:30pm thanked the state government for the project which, according to him, was in line with the President’s transformation agenda.

He said, “Today is a unique day that we are here to commission this Airport. Of cause I have been properly briefed. We have used this Airport before the first time we visited but it has not been formally commissioned.

“An Airport helps to facilitate the movement of people. It helps commerce and industry especially now that we are trying to make sure that we process and export food products. So, the Bauchi Airport will be quite useful for Hajj operations.

“The Federal Government will assist by providing the required terminal infrastructure, the camps and of cause the cargo terminals that will be used to export food produce. Of cause I have been discussing with the governor.

“So I congratulate the governor for his good work and congratulate my dear people of Bauchi State as I commission this Airport for our use for the development of Bauchi State and Nigeria”.

On completion, the Isa airport started by the Yuguda administration started in October 2011 was first put to use when the president visited Bauchi State to declare his Presidential campaign open in the state.

The president who proceeded to commission the newly built Bauchi specialists hospital said, “As a government we have resolved that both our primary health and our tertiary health must be strengthened. At the primary health level we are doing very well.

“We will set up a medical team to see how we will be able to manage this good hospital. The governor has built a very good hospital and has equipped this hospital with modern equipment”.

Thereafter, Jonathan proceeded to a town hall meeting with the people of Bauchi State.