FAAN seeks N580bn to rehabilitate airport runways

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said it requires N580bn for the rehabilitation of runways at airports nationwide.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, lamented the state of the runways in the country on Wednesday while receiving the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Kana.

Kuku said the runways built in the late 1970s had outlived their lifespan.

She added that aside from the runways, other airport infrastructures such as terminals also need major rehabilitation, stressing that this has been affecting operational efficiency and safety.

She said, “N580bn 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 1978.

“Many of FAAN’s facilities, including terminals and runways, are ageing and in need of significant repairs and upgrades. This affects operational efficiency and safety and necessitates substantial investment for modernisation.

“Also, 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, Kuku stated that due to the lack of a perimeter fence, FAAN’s landmass is constantly being encroached.

“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.”

The FAAN boss, however, promised to modernise the airports’ infrastructure by renovating terminals, expanding runways, and upgrading navigational aids.

Earlier, the permanent secretary expressed confidence in the ongoing transformation within Nigeria’s aviation sector. He promised the ministry’s continuous support to FAAN.