In an unprecedented move, the Federal Government has unveiled its ambitious vision to transform the nation’s aviation landscape with a whopping budget of N23,085,000,000 earmarked for the rehabilitation and enhancement of airports, airfields, and air navigational equipment in the upcoming 2024 fiscal year.
According to punchng.com, from this allocation, a total sum of N20,985,000,000 was budgeted for the rehabilitation and repairs of airports and aerodromes, while 2.1bn was budgeted to rehabilitate air navigational equipment.
The figure which is part of the FG’s executive proposal in the 2024 Appropriation Bill also earmarked over N63.31 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
While the ministry is to get N39.80bn, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency is to get N13,199,789,935, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria would get N5,500,235,528 while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau would receive the sum of N4,808,779,916.
Furthermore, other details of the allocation revealed that the Aviation Ministry and its agencies would be spending over N1.39b on refreshments and meals, welfare packages, and sporting activities, among other listed items.
As an ongoing project, the Ministry plans to spend N2 billion on the development of Aerospace University in Abuja, and N1 billion on the expansion of wing D and E fingers of Murtala Mohammed Airport, in Lagos.
Also, while N500 million has been earmarked for ongoing projects on safety, security-critical projects and airport certification nationwide, N10 million has been budgeted for the purchase of fire trucks for airports.
N60 million has also been set aside for the ongoing Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, and Multilateral Air Service Agreement, for Namibia, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, Senegal Israel, Pakistan, Iran, South Africa, Eritrea, Namibia, Venezuela, among others.
