Federal Government To Construct 10 New Airports – Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika

Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, has announced the Federal Government plan to construct 10 new airports in the federation.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Aviation to defend his Ministry’s 2021 budget proposals, he said his objection was to boost civil aviation across the country.

Hadi Sirika had announced the federal government plans to redevelop the Kebbi, Osubi, and Dutse airports. Whilst adding that the newly constructed airports would be erected in  Anambra, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Gombe states respectively.

In his statement he said;

“Consequent upon that roadmap, we have seen aviation grow in 2018 to become the second-fastest-growing sector of the economy.

“Also and by 2019, it became the fastest-growing sector of the economy and increased its GDP contribution.

“From 2015 till now, we’ve seen a lot of growth in civil aviation, the number of airports is increasing.

“So far, about seven airports have been added to the map, some of them completed, some of them under construction.

“There are airports coming up in Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Lafia, Damaturu, Anambra and so on.

“All these show that civil aviation is growing during this 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.”

Also hinting that the national carrier; Nigeria Air’, was going to be a part of the Aviation sector roadmap which would be delivered before 2023.

He added;

“We are on it. The transaction adviser has brought in the outline business case.

“It is being reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Soon after it finishes, it will go to the Federal Executive Council and it will be approved.

“We will not leave this government without having it in place.”

Also justifying The need for an alternative airport for the Abuja Nnamdi Azikwe airport to be constructed in Lokoja, Kogo State, the minister added that;

“Lokoja is an important northern town. It is a cosmopolitan town, it’s a mini Nigeria and it is extremely very important in the growth and development of our country.

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

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