Insecurity: FEC Approves N34.3bn For Airstrip In Benue

…okays upgrade of snake-bite centre in Gombe

In order to adequately address the challenge of insecurity in Benue State and the Middle Belt by the security agencies, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of ₦34,398,211,538.64 for the construction of an airstrip in Gboko

The Council, chaired by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, also approved the upgrade of the snake-bite treatment centre in Gombe State to the National Snake Bite Research and Medical Centre, with an expanded mandate for clinical services, research and training.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the Council meeting, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace,  Festus Keyamo,  disclosed that the airstrip in Gboko would serve as a base to tackle bandits and terrorists operating in the state and beyond.

“For us in aviation, we just had one memo. We sought council’s approval for the construction and development of the Gboko airstrip in Benue State, and it was graciously approved by council,” he said.

According to him, the contract was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited.

He explained that the importance of the airstrip was that Gboko serves as an important hub for agricultural activities around the Middle Belt and, in particular, for security agencies that have had to search for airstrips and bases to confront the challenges around that axis.

“It will also be a base for humanitarian activities and services and emergency medical services. That is how important that area is, and we thought it was important to put an airstrip there to confront and address these challenges we are facing around the axis.”

Also briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said Council considered four important items related to the health of Nigerians and approved them.

He said: “First was the upgrade of the snake-bite treatment centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, into the National Snake Bite Research and Medical Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, with an expanded mandate for clinical services, research and training to respond to the need that exists in our country for adequate attention to snake bites.

“Snake bite remains a significant yet neglected public health challenge, particularly in our rural communities here in Nigeria, in the savannah regions, but also across the subregion.

“It is especially hard on vulnerable populations — farmers, herders, hunters, women and children — whose livelihoods and daily activities expose them to encounters with snakes.

“We do have a large burden: over 43,000 snake bites annually occur, many of which result in death, disfigurement, disability and psychological trauma, with severe socioeconomic consequences.

“This new centre will be an important institution that will address the challenge, particularly in the Northeast, Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones of Nigeria, where the issue is most dire.

“The new centre will provide comprehensive, specialised care for snakebite and related envenomings, undertake research on snakebite epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, ensure sustainable access to quality antivenom, and have full clinical and medical departments to improve patient care and specialist services, among other things.

“It will also partner with international institutions. This is a major step that brings an institution that will be the first of its kind in this country and in our subregion.”

The minister further stated that the second memo he presented, which was also approved, was the procurement of 10 units of compressed natural gas‑powered blood-donation medical clinic vans for National Blood Service zonal activities.

He said the vans were essentially to facilitate the procurement, collection and distribution of blood in each geopolitical zone.

“Approximately, we require 1.8 million units of blood donations annually. At the current rate, we only get about 25 to 30%.