The Federal Government has approved the allocation of N46.39 billion to upgrade the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The Federal Executive Council allocated the fund for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the airport runways and taxiways on Thursday, July 31.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Featus Keyamo said the airfield lighting will be upgraded to meet Category Two (CAT 2) standards.
The project, spanning 24 weeks, aims to substantially enhance operational safety and decrease flight disruptions caused by weather conditions.
In addition, the Port Harcourt International Airport is scheduled for runway and taxiway improvements.
These upgrades will include updates to the airfield lighting that will bring it up to CAT 2 standards. The rehabilitation of Port Harcourt has been approved at a cost of N42.14 billion.
Subsequently, in Lagos, the airfield lighting on Runways 18 Left and 36 Right, along with Taxiways B and C, is set to be enhanced to CAT 2 LED systems. This upgrade, contracted at N44.13 billion, is projected to be completed in 30 weeks.
To enhance the operations at Lagos’ domestic terminal, FEC also sanctioned the overhaul and transformation of more than 82,000 square meters of apron areas estimated to cost N24.27 billion.
The project will be executed in stages over a period of about 17 and a half months, with the goal of increasing aircraft parking capacity and improving traffic management.
FEC has also approved the complete business case for a 30-year concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
Keyamo said, “Most of the smaller airports apart from the major ones are running at a loss. The profits we make from Kano, Lagos, and Abuja often go into keeping these others alive.
“That has always been the plan of this administration—to concession some airports to private individuals and entities so they can run them profitably,” the Minister stated.
