The Senate has urged the Federal Government to start the upgrade of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, Borno State, to make it suitable for international flights.

The Senate also asked the Aviation and Aerospace Management Minister, Festus Keyamo, to act quickly on its resolution and report back to its Aviation Committee within eight weeks.

The motion was moved on Wednesday by Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South and supported by 11 other senators from different parties.

Senator Ndume, who is the Senate Chief Whip, said that having international airports with good infrastructure would boost the economy, attract foreign investment, and develop the country socially.

He pointed out that the North East was the only geo-political zone that did not have an international airport, unlike the other five zones. He added that Borno State shared borders with three countries: Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

Ndume said, “An international airport in Maiduguri will improve the movement of people and goods from Nigeria and around the world, and ease the pressure on the road infrastructure in the zone.”

He hoped that the Borno airport would be upgraded for international operations soon “to promote tourism and provide a vital communication link between different groups of people in the region.”