Zulum Unveils $3.4m Humanitarian Aviation Facility At Maiduguri Airport

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has commissioned a newly constructed terminal and office complex at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, designed to strengthen humanitarian air operations across the North-East.

The facility, valued at $3.4 million, was funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

The project is expected to improve humanitarian access to remote and hard-to-reach communities affected by insecurity and other challenges in Borno State and the wider North-East region.

The newly completed facility is powered entirely by renewable energy through a 239 kVA solar installation comprising 400 solar panels. The system generates about 500 kWh of electricity daily, exceeding the average operational needs of the terminal while reducing reliance on conventional power sources.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Governor Zulum, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office, Dr. Babakura Kadai, said the facility would enhance humanitarian coordination, improve operational efficiency and support the delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.

The governor commended the FCDO, WFP, UNHAS, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other partners for their support in making the project possible.

The UK FCDO Development Director, Cynthia Rowe, said the project, which commenced in April 2024 and was completed in March 2026, would strengthen humanitarian aviation operations in North-East Nigeria through improved aviation infrastructure, enhanced security systems, better flight safety equipment and sustainable energy solutions.

She added that the investment would improve the speed, safety and reliability of humanitarian air services while contributing to the long-term development of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

In his remarks, the Chairman of FAAN’s Governing Board and former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, described the facility as a significant intervention that would enhance the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and services.

Ganduje assured that FAAN and its partners would continue to provide world-class airport infrastructure and services in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Earlier, the WFP Representative and Country Director, Katrina Ghoos, said the new infrastructure would serve as a dedicated operational hub for humanitarian aviation activities in the North-East, while improving the management and coordination of flights supporting humanitarian organisations operating in the region.