Former Minister of Defence, Gen T. Y Danjuma (retd) has become the first Nigerian to own a fully functional private airport.
The airport which is located in his home state of Taraba was originally an abandoned airstrip built by missionaries which the former defence minister upgraded. The airport was built in the region where Kashimbila Dam is located.
In addition to the airport, the dam also boasts a five-star hotel which Danjuma built. The whole idea of building the airport and the hotel is to transform the region to a tourism hub. Recall that the federal government formally handed over the Kashimbila Dam, a federal project to a consortium which is led by Danjuma’s company, KP Hydro Limited in a concession agreement aimed at augmenting Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity.
The consortium is expected to manage the dam which is a 40-megawatt hydroelectricity plant and enhance electricity supply and ultimately stimulate economic growth.
The Kashimbila Dam which was initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan administration was built to prevent flooding caused by water released from Cameroon. But it has since evolved into a vital source of clean energy for Taraba State. When the project was initiated, there was no plan to build an airport or a five-star hotel. The new additions are the ideas of the retired lieutenant general and former chief of army staff. Both facilities are open to the public.
