Minister Keyamo Presents N63 Billion 2024 Budget Proposal To NASS Joint Committee

The Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) today presented a proposed budget of N63 billion the 10th Assembly joint committee on aviation technology under the Ministry of Aviation budget defence.

A statement signed by Odutayo Oluseyi, H/PPA says “putting the performance of the 2023 budget at 40% based on the releases so far, and the 2024 budget for the entire Ministry and its agencies at sixty-three billion, the Honourable 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.”

Again, the minister 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; support for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses whilst holding them to the highest international standards in the  aviation industry; improvement of infrastructure in the aviation industry; development of human capacity within the industry and optimizing revenue generation for the Federal Government. Keyamo said an extra N81billion would be needed  for the completion of the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja. 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.

The minister further informed the committee that Mr. President had approved 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 was the way to go for the five international airports in Nigeria. He informed the committee that he had written a memo to Mr. President for a quality concession process for the Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports.