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Despite the poor financial status of most airports in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria has mapped out plans to construct 10 new airports across Nigeria in a bid to boost business in aviation industry

.Only four out of the 22 airports under the control of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are viable.They are Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos,Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja,Aminu Kano Airport Kano and Port-Harcourt Airport in Port-Harcourt.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja during the 2021 budget defence by the ministry and its agencies before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

The minister stated that the type of airports to be built would be a replica of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

He also noted that the civil aviation so far, had witnessed tremendous growth, adding that the number of airports in Nigeria has risen.

According to him; “there are airports coming up in Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Lafia, Damaturu, Anambra and so forth. All of these show that civil aviation is growing during this administration”.

Sirika further hinted that the executive arms of government and the National Assembly had done justice to the civil aviation industry since 2015 when the present administration came on board through the development of a roadmap, which was being implemented.

He maintained that the reason behind the new development to build new airports was due to the growth witnessed by the aviation industry under the present administration.

“So, we have about 10 new airports coming up; that is almost half the number of airports we used to have in Nigeria. We are adding 50 per cent of the number of airports,” he said.

Sirika also posited that Kebbi, Osubi, Dutse, Jigawa States airports were taken over by the Federal Government while the Gombe State Government had also written the federal authorities to take over the Gombe airport.

However, the Minister averred that the national carrier, Nigeria Air, was part of the Aviation sector roadmap, that would be delivered before 2023.

“We are on it. The transaction adviser has brought in the outline business case. It is being reviewed by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

“Soon after its completion, it will go to the Federal Executive Council for approval. We will not leave this government without having it in place,” he said.

On building another airport in Lokoja, Kogi State, as alternate to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, he said: “Lokoja is an important Northern town. Lokoja is a cosmopolitan town, it’s a mini Nigeria and it is extremely very important in growth and development of our country.

“We have a lot of agricultural activities around there. There is fishery, there is perishable items production and so on.

“So citting an airport there is quite apt. For me, it is something we should have done long ago for its importance”.

Meanwhile,the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has sealed off the cheking-in couters of Azman Air and Aero Contractors for the inability of these two domestic airlines to meet their financial obligation to the Authority.Staff of FAAN stormed the counters of the airlines at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja in the  early hours ofTuesday October 27,2020.

All their passengers bound to different destinations in the country were seen discussing in hush voices of what would become of them.They could not get the refund for their ticket as the airlines’ offices were also sealed off by FAAN.General Manager Public Affairs of the Authority,Mrs.Henrrietta  Yakubu confirmed the story saying the airlines were indebted to FAAN to tune of millions of Naira.

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With additional report from Nigerian Maritime 360.com.