No fewer than sixteen towns and villages in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State would soon be destroyed by the state government to make way for the construction of an international cargo-airport expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The airport which, according to the state commissioner for information, Alhaji Ibrahim Maigandi, would cost the government about N12 billion, is expected to enhance the socio-economic status of the state.

When our reporter visited the towns and villages marked for destruction which included Gidan-Maigemu, Daya-Wuri, Sabon gari, Dogon Kade, some inhabitants of the communities told our reporter that, they were not satisfied with the state government’s intention to establish the airport within their localities.

A driver from Dogon Kade village told our reporter on condition of anonymity that it would be difficult for the villagers to allow their farms, houses as well as the grave yards of their fathers, mothers, grand parents an their relatives to be destroyed in the name of establishing an airport. He disclosed that they have concluded arrangements to invite some prominent Islamic scholars from neigbouring states such as Kano, Borno and Sokoto to assist the people with prayers so that the government of Zamfara State would move the location of the airport elsewhere.

Nigerian Newsday gathered that the site for the construction of the airport is close to the permanent site of the state ammunition depot barrack of the Nigerian Army near, the historic Kwatarkwahi rock in the state.

However, when contacted to react to the feelings of members of the communities that would be affected by this development, the state commissioner of information, Alhaji Ibrahim Maigandi, in a telephone conversation told our reporter that he would not comment on the matter. He asked our reporter to contact the state commissioner for commerce and industry. However, all efforts to see the commerce commissioner proved abortive while compiling this report.

The affected communities have, however, urged the federal government and United Nations Organisations to come to their aid by dissuading the state government from citing the project in their localities. They suggested areas such as Dansadau, Maru, Maraduu among others as more suitable for the construction of the airport in the state.