The continual development of non-economically viable airports by State governments and the insistence on refunds, aviation specialists say it’s one other means of diverting public funds. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.
Practically all of the states in Nigeria have airports or are on the verge of getting one, however simply three of those airports are commercially viable.
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in a media parley final yr, talked about the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport (NAIA), Abuja and Mal. Aminu Kano Worldwide Airport (MAKIA), Kano as the one economically viable airports within the nation,
In accordance with her, the opposite 19 airports beneath FAAN, are subsidised as a result of they don’t generate sufficient passenger site visitors to cowl their working prices.
However, regardless of these odds, extra State governments proceed to assemble airports of their varied states, that are later transferred to FAAN. Because it stands, FAAN manages airports constructed by State governments, which regularly lack long-term planning and sustainable operations.
Other than these, the State governments additionally request for refund from the Federal Governments for the unsolicited airports constructed by them.
Because it stands, among the state-owned airports have lower than 5,000 passenger site visitors each year, whereas an airport like Dutse Worldwide Airport, in 2023, recorded virtually zero passenger site visitors.
Some trade specialists say that many of the State governments embark on airport development for alleged diversion of public funds, whereas the Federal Authorities is blackmailed to take over a few of such airports.
Often, the Federal Authorities refunds State governments billions of naira for the tasks, thereby growing the monetary and personnel burdens on FAAN and different authorities businesses.
For example, within the 2025 appropriation invoice to the Nationwide Meeting, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, budgeted the sum of N4 billion to the Kebbi State Authorities as a refund for the development of Birnin Kebbi Airport. This isn’t the full refund for the State Authorities.
The Senate had in October final yr, permitted the full sum of N15.1 billion to the Kebbi State Authorities for the refund of its airport mission.
The 2025 appropriation invoice obtained by Day by day Impartial, confirmed that the Federal Authorities, by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement marked the N4 billion merchandise as “ongoing” with the reference quantity: SGF. OP/1/5.3/VIII).
Other than Kebbi, the Senate additionally inside the similar interval, permitted one other N9.5 billion to the Nasarawa State authorities for development works on the Lafia Cargo Airport.
Additionally, in 2022, the Gombe State Authorities claimed that it spent over N11 billion on its airport and demanded a refund from the Federal Authorities the identical yr.
The airport was inside the similar yr taken over by the Federal Authorities in order that it might serve twin functions of business and army use.
Additionally, the Federal Authorities had proven the willingness to take over the Chuba Okadigbo Worldwide Airport constructed by the Ebonyi State authorities in 2023.
The State Authorities had claimed that it expended N36 billion on the development of the airport, whereas a further N13 billion it alleged would even be spent on the reconstruction of its runway and improve of different amenities.
The above are only a few examples of state-owned airports taken over or refunded by the Federal Authorities in recent times.
State governments arm-twisting FG
Specialists within the trade likened the takeover of inefficient state-owned airports by the Federal Authorities to arm-twisting the federal government by some states.
Additionally they mentioned that these takeovers and refunds make a mockery of the airport concessioning scheme of the current administration.
Capt. Mohammed Badamasi, aviation knowledgeable, declared that it was improper for the Federal authorities to refund State governments for a mission initiated and accomplished by them with none memorandum of settlement that claims that the airport was being constructed on behalf of the Federal Authorities.
Badamasi insisted that the State governments lacked the imaginative and prescient for such a mission, however solely fascinated about refunds particularly when the price of working the airports was capital-intensive and never worthwhile.
He defined that it will take a number of years of operation earlier than the N4 billion refund to the Kebbi State authorities as an illustration, can be recovered, saying that that is additionally largely depending on the income generated from its utilisation.
He maintained that the N4 billion fund might have been used to fund another tasks within the nation.
He added: “These unviable airports, together with the Kebbi, at the moment are liabilities to the Federal Authorities. How does the Federal Authorities get better the cash paid to the State governments on enterprise that’s unprofitable?
“The airport is a legal responsibility to the federal government. The Federal Authorities ought to cease taking on liabilities from State governments henceforth.”
Additionally, Mr. Bankole Bernard, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Finchglow Holdings Ltd., questioned the refund system.
Bernard argued that such a system offers room for corruption, including that its takeover and refund was contradictory to the airport concession coverage of the Federal Authorities.
He declared that any State Authorities that lacked the means to assemble, develop and maintain its personal airport shouldn’t enterprise into the mission.
He added: “From the look of issues, there appears to be some political undertone or why will the State governments compete for the development of airports after which battle at hand it over to the Federal Authorities?
“To refund State governments for airport tasks, you might be creating room for corruption within the system. I don’t wish to imagine that the Federal Authorities will, within the first place, encourage them to embark on such a mission and after they refund, how do they refund the State governments? The takeover and refund, defeat the entire essence of airport concessioning. It means the concessioning train is defective.”
In addition to, Capt. Abdullahi Sidi, the previous Performing Director-Normal, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), queried the aim for the development of airports by the State governments.
Sidi mentioned that almost all of such airports don’t generate funds for the states, lacked financial advantages and with none viable causes.
He defined that reasonably than for the State governments to focus on the development of airports, such funds might be diverted for different extra impacting tasks and growth of improved primary facilities.
He kicked in opposition to the takeover of state-owned airports by the Federal Authorities, declaring that some Nigeria’s policymakers are shortsighted of their visions.
He queried the prices of taking on such airports by the Federal Authorities, including that the federal government will need to have concrete causes for taking on such airports.
He mentioned: “Presently, FAAN has about 22 airports or extra straight beneath its management, however what are the advantages of those airports by way of financial advantages and serving the folks of such states? A number of such airports are simply mendacity flat with many having just one flight a day.
“Sokoto airport hardly has three flights a day; similar factor as Maiduguri, Gombe, Yola and even Asaba airports. Dutse Airport as it’s right this moment, doesn’t not have any flights. The cash they’re placing into the development of those airports might be diverted into training. Services in our colleges are dilapidating at alarming charges. Identical factor applies to the Ogun State Cargo Airport; I’m certain it doesn’t have any flights right this moment. That’s one other waste by the State Authorities.”
Comrade Olayinka Abioye, aviation analyst, described the urge for airport development by State governments as unwarranted.
Abioye additional declared that handing over of state-owned airports to the Federal Authorities was pointless, however there are precedents.
In addition to, Abioye as an illustration, mentioned that there was no justification for the continued development of Ekiti airport due to its closeness to Akure Airport, predicting that it will be a failure.
He mentioned: “For example, I don’t see any justification for Ekiti State to personal an airport. I kicked in opposition to it from the start and until now. Now, they’ve an issue.
“Have a look at Akure Airport, what number of kilometers is it to Ekiti State regardless that the roads are dangerous? When that airport turns into totally useful and open to business plane, we wish to see what number of passengers it can get in a yr. These are among the points we’re elevating.”
