How Ethiopian Airline inserts Kaduna into the Global Economy

With the inauguration of Ethiopian Airline regular flights from Kaduna, yesterday, the government believed that the state economy will overcome the disadvantage of not being close to seaport.
The state governor, Malam nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i, said that the Federal government trusted the state to host flights while Abuja Airport was closed, and that Ethiopian Airlines demonstrated confidence and solidarity by agreeing to Kaduna flights during the period.
“The flight of Ethiopian Airline from Kaduna to Addis Ababa marks another step in the steady insertion of Kaduna into the global economy. With this direct flight from Kaduna, and the imminent start of operations at the inland container terminal, Kaduna is being upgraded to port city despites its considerable distance from the nearest ocean. International travel for business people and the ability to export and import cargo with little hitch are being considerably enhanced.
“This is giving considerable boost to the state government’s strategy to anchor growth and development on attracting investments to create jobs, increase internally generated revenues and empower people. The investment strategy is receiving emphatic support with investment inflows above USD 300m in two years amidst two very successful investment summits.
“Kaduna is a major road transport hub, agriculture power house and home to many educational institutions. The state is also working to boost the formal exploitation of its solid minerals, including the newly discovered Nickel, revive its textiles legacy and become a hub for ICT.
Kaduna state has within two years successfully reversed the fortunes of the Kaduna Airport which had for too long punched below its weight, both in terms of facilities and flight availability, which, since 2015, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i’s led administration has worked hard to improve this, engaging with federal aviation authorities and airline managers to persuade them to start or increase flights to Kaduna.
The state government pledge to continue to engage aviation stakeholders to ensure that more local and international flights come to Kaduna.
The Governor yesterday led a team of state government officials to board the inaugural flights.