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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has opened a new terminal for Humanitarian Air Service in Maiduguri to enhance delivery of aid to people affected by insurgency who live in communities difficult to reach by road transportation.
WFP Head of Area Office, Northeast, Emmanuel Bigenimana, in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the newly-built UN Humanitarian Air Services (HAS) Terminal at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Maiduguri yesterday described the facility as an important investment in the aviation infrastructure.
He disclosed that Air services are an integral part of the humanitarian response. He said the facility will enable the delivery of assistance to locations that are inaccessible to aid organisations and cargoes by road.
“The World Food Programme operates the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, providing reliable air transport for UN agencies, NGOs and partners to reach populations quickly and safely when and where they are needed most,” he explained.
He said humanitarian flights departing from Maiduguri daily support operations serving thousands of people affected by violence in the region.
He commended the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) for funding the project.
The UK FCDO Development Director, Cynthia Rowe said the UNHAS has been operating from a temporary structure to deliver aid to civilian populations in hard-to-reach areas for a long time. He said the opening of the terminal on Thursday was not just a ceremonial event but about people difficult to reach.
Gov Babagana Zulum, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of Borno State Agency for Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Response, Dr Babakura Gadai, lauded WFP initiative and UK FCDO support for the project.
He expressed hope the facility will be transferred to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for sustainability.
