Group rejects relocation of fire, truck maintenance, refurbishment centre project from Katsina

A group, Hope Arewa Development Initiative, HADI, has rejected the move to relocate the Fire and Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre project site out of Katsina State.

The National Coordinator of the group, Adamu Mohammed, in a statement issued Monday, expressed dismay and utter discontentment with the alleged move.

The group described the excuse given by the company as the reason for the proposed relocation of the project site from Kastina as the most comical explanation ever.

It maintained that the “reckless action”, though yet to be executed, is one that brazenly assaults the collective intelligence of teeming Katsina citizens and residents alike.

The group cautioned the federal government to shun any action that would further polarise citizens and negatively affect unity, oneness and national integration.

The group recalled an official correspondence to the Minister of Aviation and Airspace Development, Festus Keyamo, which was dated 4th December 2023, one Mag. Georg Eder, the Managing Director/CEO of AVSATEL Communications Limited, allegedly sought the Minister’s consent to relocate the establishment of the Fire and Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre project in Katsina.

It noted: “Our attention has been drawn to a subterranean cum obnoxious plot by AVSATEL Communications Limited, seeking the relocation of the federal government-awarded Establishment of Fire and Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre project’s site, outside of Katsina State.”

The group said it would be patriotic and rationale for Keyamo to eschew approving AVSATEL Communications’ ‘unfair’ and ‘wicked’ request, for many obvious reasons.

It, therefore, urged AVSATEL Communications Limited to tread with caution, as the company attempted to hoodwink Keyamo and the federal government into taking a rather drastic action.

It noted: “Indeed, the Katsina State Government, at all times, will continue to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its progressive socio-economic policies and programmes.

“However, we urge it not to fold its arms and remain docile when the noble interests of the good people of Katsina are threatened. Therefore, our initiative rejects the callous move to relocate the siting of the project at any other part of Nigeria, outside its original, beautiful and safe abode – our dear Katsina State and the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport.”