FAAN: We need N500bn to rehabilitate airport runways across Nigeria
Runways across Nigerian airports will gulp an estimated N580 billion for their repairs and rehabilitations in order to meet recommended standards having been in states of disrepair, worn-out or their life span expired, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed on Wednesday.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku made the revelation while briefing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana during a tour of the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Lagos.
Mrs. Kuku explained that the majority of the runways, the critical component of any airport, were built in the late 70s and early 80s and thus are not in sync with airport operations of the current dispensation.
The country’s airports management authority currently own and manage 22 airports and cross-subsidizes 19 of them with revenue the 3 largely profitable aerodromes in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt that largely contribute to the sustenance of others.
She explained that “N580 billion is required to fix runways across all airports, their life span is between 20 to 25 years but most of the airports were built in the late 1970s.
Speaking of the state of the airports, Kuku lamented that “Many of FAAN’s facilities, including terminals and runways, are aging and in need of significant repairs and upgrades. This affects operational efficiency and safety, and necessitates substantial investment for modernization.
She continued saying “Despite efforts to enhance security at airports, FAAN continues to face challenges in managing security risks, particularly with the increase in air travel and the potential for terrorist activities or other threats at key airport locations. On land Encroachment, due to lack of perimeter fence, the Authority landmass is constantly being encroached on all over the country.
“Obsolete equipment such as old fire tenders, generators, air conditioning systems conveyor lines with worn-out slats, belts and motors, can be found in many airports that have low efficiency and have high maintenance cost.”, she said.
She disclosed her management plan to increase its revenue for 2025 by adopting innovative strategies to increase non-aeronautical revenue streams, such as commercial concessions, advertising, real estate development, and cargo operations.
Whilst she affirmed that N128.7 billion was remitted into the Federation account in 2024, she enthused that reduction in revenue leakages in 2024 led to about 93% in Net inflows as compared to 2023.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary commended the reforms carried out so far by the FAAN MD expressed strong confidence in the ongoing transformation within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He attributed progress to the solid structural framework driven by the strategic leadership and the support of the minister of aviation in driving the vision of the president for the sector.
He emphasized that Kuku’s managerial expertise has been pivotal in enhancing operational efficiency and service delivery and noted that the minister’s proactive policies and strategic direction have created an enabling environment for growth and innovation within the aviation sector.
Reaffirming the ministry’s full support for FAAN, Dr. Ibrahim pledged to work closely with the management to sustain the momentum of development.
He stressed the need to prioritize personnel training as a vital component of the reforms, urging FAAN’s leadership to design a sustainable and comprehensive training framework for staff capacity building.
“The aviation sector demands constant innovation and expertise, saying “I urge everyone to put on their thinking caps and contribute to improving the system. Together, we can elevate Nigeria’s aviation industry to global standards.” The Perm Sec noted.
