Mohammed Bago, the Niger State Governor, has clarified his decision to rename the Abubakar Imam International Airport after President Bola Tinubu.
He mentioned that the renaming was driven by the need to ensure a square peg is placed in a square hole, emphasizing that naming the State Polytechnic Zungeru after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam, was more suitable and the decision was approved by the president.
Following its commissioning on Monday, Bago made a last-minute decision to change the name of the airport from Imam to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement, citing Bago's announcement during a live interview on TVC News at 10 on Monday.
The Governor, in an effort to calm the emotions of Niger citizens, chose to name the State Polytechnic Zungeru after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam, emphasizing, “It is a square peg in a square hole”.
Ibrahim pointed out that the Governor highlighted the substantial contributions of the famous Hausa author to not only the State but the country as a whole, especially northern Nigeria, and stressed that naming academic institutions after the Literary Icon was the ideal decision.
Bago mentioned that the renaming of the Airport after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, less than a year after it was called the Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport, is a gesture of appreciation towards the President for approving the State to set up the first special Airport Agro-Processing Free Zone in Nigeria and for his significant contributions to nation building.
The Governor announced that the Airport's renaming was done after consulting with relevant stakeholders, including members of the State Executive Council, and receiving approval from the President.
