Budget Defence: Reps Akingbaso Advocates Air Cargo Terminal, Upgrading and Improve Service for Akure Airport
PATH NEWS
At the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Aviation held on Tuesday 12th December, 2023 in defence of the budget proposal for 2024 Fiscal year, the Vice Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon Festus Akingbaso had advocated for Air Cargo Terminal, upgrading of Akure Airport, activation of Okitupupa Airstrip which were all granted and included in the budget.
The joint session met with the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr Festus Keyamo SAN and his teams from all MDAs that make up the ministry at the Senate building of the National Assembly Complex Abuja.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has six agencies under her, these are : Federal Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
In the 2024 budget estimate for the fiscal year, the budget estimate for the ministry is 63.31B as the breakdown of the lump sum shows that the ministry has 39.8 B, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has an estimate of 13B, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCCA) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has 5.5 B.
The bicameral sitting engaged the minister, Barr. Festus Keyamo and other Directors under the ministry for hours of intense to ensure that the appropriation matches up with the expectations of international standards.
A further breakdown of the appropriation estimates shows that 23B is to rehabilitate the airports and others across the country, the 4 aerodromes and others will gulp 30B while Sports, Refreshments and others shall gulp 1.39B.
The Senate Chairman, Senate Committee and Representatives Committee Chairman, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai and Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba as well as Hon Festus Olanrewaju Akingbaso, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Aviation raised a point on the abandoned terminals and responding, the minister agreed to include same in the 2024 appropriation bill, he went further to seek for the improvement of facilities in Akure Airports as well as other airports in Nigeria, most especially Lagos Airport.
Hon Festus Akingbaso called for the commencement of the second runaway of Abuja Stadium, he raised concerns about how the passengers are poorly treated as the operators waste time and suggested that henceforth, defaulters shall pay penalties to the affected passengers.
