12th March 2024

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has explained why he renamed the Abubakar Imam International Airport after President Bola Tinubu.

He said the renaming was prompted by the desire to ensure a square peg is placed in a square hole, noting that naming the State Polytechnic Zungeru, after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam was more appropriate. He added that the president approved the decision.

Bago, in a last-minute decision, changed the name of the airport which was named after Imam in June last year to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, following its commissioning on Monday.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim made this known on Tuesday in a statement quoting Bago as announcing the development while granting a live interview on TVC News at 10 on Monday.

In a move to assuage the feelings of Niger citizens, the Governor named the State Polytechnic Zungeru, after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam, saying, “It is a square peg in a square hole”.

Bago who explained the naming of the Polytechnic after Imam said the action was “simply to put a square peg in a square hole”.

Ibrahim noted that the Governor recounted the significant contributions of the famous Hausa author to not only the State but the country at large particularly northern Nigeria, pointing out that naming academic institutions after the Literary Icon was the best.

Speaking on the renaming of the Airport after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, less than a year after it was named the Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport, Bago said, “It is in appreciation of the President, for approving the State to establish the first special Airport Agro-Processing Free Zone in Nigeria and his immense contributions to nation building.

“The State Government under my leadership has been enjoying tremendous support from the Tinubu-led government and the President is an astute politician and a great leader that should be celebrated”.

The Governor disclosed that the renaming of the Airport was done after consultations with relevant stakeholders including the State Executive Council members and after getting the approval of the President.