The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has presented a N63 billion 2024 budget proposal to the joint committee of the national assembly on aviation technology.
Putting the performance of the 2023 budget at 40 per cent based on the releases so far, and the 2024 budget for the entire Ministry and its agencies at N63 billion, the minister said that critical projects such as Abuja second runway, upgrade and rehabilitation of the old terminal of Lagos airport were vital projects that need urgent attention.
He affirmed his five focus areas for the industry to be to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s rating by ICAO.
The second is support for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses whilst holding them to the highest international standards in the aviation industry.
The third Keyamo said, is improvement of infrastructure in the aviation industry.
The fourth is development of human capacity within the industry and the fifth
is optimising revenue generation for the federal government.
According to him, an extra N81billion will be needed for the completion of the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
On this, he expressed the danger associated with having only one runway for a capital city like Abuja.
Speaking further, Keyamo appealed to the 10th Assembly joint committee for the procurement of consultancy for the design of a master plan for major airports in Nigeria, stating the need to give more attention to the area of safety with the procurement of equipment.
He further informed the committee that Mr. President has graciously approved the purchase of screening machines for the five international airports in Nigeria.
On the issue of airport concession, the minister said, he has taken into consideration the concerns of the 9th Assembly as regard the non-transparent manner it was conducted but affirmed that concession is the way to go for the five international airports in Nigeria.
He informed the committee that he has written a memo to Mr. President for a quality concession process for the Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu airport.