Nigeria To Double The Number Of Airports In 2023, Says Sirika |The Source

By Uche Mbah

While most of the airports in the country are known to be unviable and underutilized due to location and low traffic, indications are that the Federal Government may double the number of airports in the country within the next two years.

Nigeria currently has 31 airports.  26 of them are local airports while five of them are International airports.

Most airports in the country, even International airports, are functioning at low capacity with some, only active during religious seasons like the Haj season.

Recently, the Government decided to focus on the major International airports, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja for special upgrades, besides the work done at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. It budgeted N1.6 billion for the extension and asphalt overlay of Murtala Muhammed International Airport runway, Lagos; N1 billion for the construction of a new terminal building in Enugu; and N1 billion construction of an airstrip in Abeokuta.

But the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, while responding to questions during the presentation of the budget by President Muhammadu Buhari said that the Ministry is working towards doubling the number of airports in the country by the year 2023. This, according to him, will boost the national economy and increase air connectivity.

The President during the budget presentation sounded an alarm, warning of an impending recession in the economy.

“We understood the principles and the importance of air connectivity and it is a very important sector. It boosts our economy and we believe investment in this sector will do well for our economy.

“Before the end of 2023, we would have doubled the number of airports in Nigeria. We understand the importance of aviation infrastructure as a critical component for the working of our economy and our national security assets,” he said.

According to Sirika, the aviation industry is the fastest-growing sector in the country. He said that the current administration had developed a roadmap aimed at improving civil aviation and air transportation in general.