3rd aviation conference: Zulum: woos investors says Borno open for business
Omeiza Bilal
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, announced on Monday that the state is ready for investment, citing its strategic location, improved security, and a favourable investment climate.
The governor made the declaration at the 2025 Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Annual Aviation Conference in Lagos, themed “Elevating the Nigerian Aviation Industry through Investment, Partnership and Global Engagements.”
He highlighted Borno’s unique position as a commercial gateway, neighbouring three countries and offering short flight hours to Europe and the Middle East.
“Borno State is strategically positioned in the shores of the Lake Chad, close to the Sahel region and bordering three countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger republics,” Zulum stated. “Maiduguri the state capital is close to Europe; you can leave Maiduguri and reach Malaga, Spain in three and a half hours. From Maiduguri to Jidda, Saudi Arabia is three hours flight; within two hours you can reach Sudan and Algeria.”
Governor Zulum announced that Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri will soon be inaugurated for international operations.
“I am pleased to inform this gathering that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would soon commission the Maiduguri International Airport for international flights,” he said. “The potential of Maiduguri International Airport when commissioned need not be overemphasized. Therefore, I am inviting investors to come and invest in the state.”
“I want to inform investors that Maiduguri is safer than Lagos and Abuja. I mean it. You can move freely in the city without apprehension. We have a lot of opportunities,” Zulum stated.
He further remarked that Maiduguri dry port will soon become operational and that the federal government has approved the operation of a Free Trade. He promised to create an enabling environment and announced plans to establish a mega industrial hub near the new international airport.
The governor commended the president, Minister of Aviation, Managing Director of FAAN, and other agencies for their achievements.
The conference, the third in the series, was attended by representative of the president, Senator George Akume, as well as the Governors of Lagos and Imo states, Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Hon. Aliyu Mohammed Bamanga,
and other key stakeholders in the aviation sector.
