The Zamfara Government has signed an Air Route Development Partnership Agreement with XEJet Limited. The deal covers scheduled commercial flights between Gusau International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday in Gusau.
Zamfara’s security crisis has isolated the state. Banditry and kidnappings have made road travel dangerous. In 2023, the state government completed the Gusau International Airport. It was built from scratch in two years. The airport was meant to improve access. It has operated limited flights. The Abuja route is the first scheduled commercial service. It follows similar moves in other northern states. In 2024, Kebbi and Sokoto expanded air links. The goal is to reduce dependence on risky roads.
The Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, chaired the signing ceremony. The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, signed on behalf of the state. XEJet will operate bi-weekly flights beginning next month. The route will enhance access to Zamfara. It will open opportunities for investors, businesses and visitors.
Mummuni said the partnership aligns with the government’s strategic goal of enhancing transportation infrastructure. “The main goal of constructing the airport is to make it easier and more efficient for people and goods to move,” he said. He said Governor Dauda Lawal has been seeking international investors and donor agencies. “This milestone of initiating commercial flights will attract potential investors,” he added.
The economic logic is sound. Air travel bypasses the security risks on Zamfara’s roads. It connects the state to Abuja, the political and business capital. Investors who avoid Zamfara due to insecurity may reconsider if they can fly in and out safely. The airport also supports cargo. Agricultural produce and solid minerals can move faster.
The challenges remain. Bi-weekly flights are limited. Ticket prices must be affordable. The airport needs supporting infrastructure. Security around the airport must be guaranteed. XEJet must sustain the route. If passenger numbers are low, the service may be cut.
Winners: Zamfara Government, which shows progress. XEJet, which gains a route. Businesses and investors, who gain access. Travellers, who avoid risky roads. Losers: Road transport operators, who lose passengers. The state, if the route fails. Taxpayers, if the airport requires subsidies. Other airlines, which missed the opportunity.
Bottom Line: Zamfara now has an air link to Abuja. Bi-weekly flights begin next month. The airport was built to open the state. This deal is the first real test. If it works, investors may follow. If it fails, the runway remains a monument.