Cities around the world are separated by physical distance, but individuals can travel relatively easily between cities using various forms of transportation. Air travel not only connects people but it connects economies to further develop the global economy. That is what the Kaduna airport has done by bringing people from all over the world together through the aerodrome.

Yes, it was not supposed to be, but the desire by the Federal Government to save lives occasioned by the deteriorating Abuja airport runway forced traffic to be diverted to Kaduna as an alternate airport.

Initially, criticisms had trailed the relocation of flights to Kaduna, but pressure and shameful state of facilities in Abuja made the shutdown of Abuja and movement of flights to Kaduna inevitable.

The Kaduna airport was hastily refurbished to bring it to international standards with state-of-the-art navigational facilities that can only be rivalled by those in Lagos and Abuja. The Kaduna airport navigational aids that were installed have an edge over those in Abuja and Lagos because those of Kaduna are newer and top notch in terms of reliability. The airport came alive last Thursday as flights meant for Abuja now operate in and out of Kaduna. Before now, the Kaduna airport remained unattractive to airlines and this was further compounded by the downturn of businesses in the city over a long period of time.

A visit by Woleshadare.net to the airport community last week shows that adjoining communities in the area would benefit from the economic boom that has already manifested as a result of coming alive of the aerodrome. Gwazaye is a community situated near the Kaduna airport in Afaka ward, Igabi Local government area of Kaduna state. The airport wore a new look as workers were still working to fix some of the facilities.

Gwazaye, which existence precedes the establishment of the airport lacks some social amenities including schools, hospitals, and water among others. The community has been in existence long before the airport was established. The airport was built on their farmland. The people of the community are predominantly farmers.

It got its name ‘Gwazaye’ from a farm produce coco yam called ‘Gwaza’ in Hausa language. Gwaza was planted in large quantity in the community in the past and the people usually cook it overnight before consumption. But today, the farmers plant all forms of crops including maize, millet, beans and cassava among others.

Commercial activities nosedived for a very longtime as about five flights or a little more are operated into the city before now. Be that as it may, new businesses are springing up while existing ones are receiving a boost with the influx of more people into the community as a result of commercial activities that have tripled.

Some residents of the community were engaged in the on-going upgrade of the airport. They are all singing the praises of the development that has come to the area and they are lapping up the opportunity and taking advantage of the huge opportunity provided by the development. An artisan who gave his name as Danladi Yusuf said what is happening would rapidly bring development to the community and its inhabitants.

His words: “We can see what is happening with the beautification of roads leading to this area. You can see electrification that has come to our area. Businesses are thriving.

The coming of visitors will open up the community to investor and residents are getting jobs. You can see massive building constructions going on in this area.” A restaurateur who gave her name Pam lauded the decision of government to upgrade the airport, saying the decision has brought tremendous development to the community.

“This will change the status of our women who before now had nothing to do. People are really excited about what has happened. New businesses will spring up while existing ones will get a boost and more people will come to reside in this place because of activities that are now booming.”

Airport development has also been linked with economic development. Much research has been done on this relationship, with focuses on different regions and cities around the world. Economic development is often linked with infrastructure development, which means that airports are expected to further the development of the economies of the surrounding regions.

Transportation in general affects the development of cities, with air travel having a large stake in both short and long distance transportation.

Economists have reached a general consensus that airports do share a relationship with economic development, but the exact cause-and-effect relationship is unclear and depends on many factors. Yes airports are critical contributors to economic growth and revenue generation around the world especially for low income countries with huge land and rail infrastructure deficits.

In some lower countries, customs collection at international airport accounts for about 25 per cent of total customs revenue and could be the third largest customs collectorate after the seaport customs collectorate. The airport is a strategic point for our domestic revenue mobilization.

Though this airport region does not account for highest employment within its jurisdiction, the impressive air passenger traffic of the airport has encouraged the construction of hotels within the airport vicinity for potential in transit passengers.

The social cost of the negative externalities (noise from aircraft) are negligible when compared to the aggregate financial and social benefits that the region or entire country gets from the activities around the airport.