The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved the construction of a N34.4 billion airstrip in Gboko, Benue State, in a major move aimed at strengthening military and humanitarian operations in one of Nigeria’s worst-hit insecurity corridors.

The Council said the facility would provide security agencies with a strategic operational base to combat banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes across Benue and the wider Middle Belt.

Beyond the security intervention, FEC also approved a package of critical health-sector initiatives, including the upgrade of the Snakebite Treatment Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, into the National Snake Bite Research and Medical Centre, the procurement of 10 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered blood donation clinic vans, N62 billion worth of tuberculosis commodities and N25 billion for reproductive health supplies.

The approvals were granted at the meeting of the Council presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said the Gboko airstrip would significantly improve security operations in Benue State and adjoining parts of the Middle Belt.

He disclosed that the contract was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited at a cost of N34,398,211,538.64.

According to him, the airstrip will not only enhance rapid deployment of security personnel but will also support emergency medical evacuations, disaster response and humanitarian operations in the region.

“Gboko is an important agricultural hub, but beyond that, it is a strategic location for confronting the security challenges around that axis. The airstrip will serve as a base for security agencies, humanitarian services and emergency medical operations,” Keyamo said.

Also briefing journalists, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said Council approved four strategic interventions designed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and improve emergency medical response.

The minister said FEC approved the conversion of the Snakebite Treatment Centre in Kaltungo into the National Snake Bite Research and Medical Centre with expanded responsibilities for specialised treatment, research, training and sustainable access to quality antivenom.

He noted that Nigeria records more than 43,000 snakebite cases annually, many of which result in death, permanent disability and severe socio-economic hardship, particularly among farmers, herders and rural dwellers.

According to him, the new institution will become the country’s premier centre for snakebite management and research while serving the North-East, North-West and North-Central zones where the burden is highest.

Council also approved the procurement of 10 CNG-powered blood donation clinic vans valued at about N6.9 billion to strengthen the operations of the National Blood Service.

Pate said Nigeria requires about 1.8 million units of blood annually but currently meets only about 30 per cent of that demand, adding that the mobile clinics would boost voluntary blood donation and improve emergency access to safe blood for trauma victims, pregnant women, surgical patients and cancer patients.

The Council further approved the procurement of tuberculosis commodities worth N62 billion as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign donors and guarantee uninterrupted treatment for patients.

Pate said the intervention would also lay the foundation for local production of anti-tuberculosis medicines in the country.

FEC equally approved N25 billion for the procurement of reproductive health commodities through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to support maternal healthcare and voluntary family-planning services across primary healthcare centres nationwide.