Niger State capital, Minna will soon boast a state-of-the-art airport city, Business Day reports.

Graham Norton-Standen, chairman of Maevis Nigeria Limited, while recently speaking to reporters, revealed that the multi-billion naira project is going to be financed by a consortium of banks and well-known UK-based architect Sheppard Robson.

He said that his company is going to build an airport city situated in a duty-free export processing zone. He added that the airport city will rival Dubai, one of the world's foremost trading centres.

The chairman disclosed that the city will consist of an airport, manufacturing businesses, rail services and other allied services. He did not mention the amount budgeted for the project.

According to Norton-Standen, his firm has full support from the state government and Nigeria's federal government for the project.