The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo yesterday presented a N63 billion budget proposal for the 2024 fiscal year to the joint session of the national assembly committee on aviation.
The budget estimate covers the entire ministry and its agencies.
Addressing the lawmakers in Abuja, the minister put the performance of the 2023 budget at 40 per cent based on the money released so far.
He listed critical projects such as the completion of second Abuja Airport runway which he said would require an additional N81 billion as well as upgrade and rehabilitation of the old terminal of the Lagos airport as vital projects that needed urgent attention.
He expressed the danger associated with having only one runway in an airport in the federal capital.
Keyamo appealed to the lawmakers to approve the procurement of consultancy for the design of a master plan for major airports in Nigeria
He also underscored the need to give more attention to safety and the procurement of equipment.
The minister further informed the legislators that approval had been given for the purchase of screening machines for the five international airports in Nigeria.
On the issue of airport concession, the minister said he had taken into consideration the concerns of the 9th Assembly as regards 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 had sent a memo to President Bola Tinubu for a quality concession process for the Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports.
The minister also disclosed his five-point programme for the aviation industry to include *ensuring strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s rating by ICAO; *supporting for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses whilst holding them to the highest international standards in the aviation industry; *improving infrastructure in the aviation industry; developing of human capacity within the industry; and *optimising revenue generation for the federal government.
Speaking further, Keyamo appealed to the 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.
The minister further informed the committee that Mr. President has graciously approved the purchase of screening machines for the 5 international airports in Nigeria.
On airport concession, the minister said he had taken into consideration the concerns of the 9th Assembly as regards the non-transparent manner it was conducted but affirmed that “concession is the way to go for the 5 international airports in Nigeria.”
He informed the committee that he had sent a memo to Mr. President for “quality concession process for the Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports.”
