The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive upgrade of navigational and communication systems across airports nationwide, aimed at strengthening air safety, modernising infrastructure, and improving the passenger experience.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Keyamo said the Council endorsed the extension of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) maintenance contract for the new terminal at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, alongside several critical aviation infrastructure projects.
The upgrades include the installation of Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS) in Lagos and Abuja to detect runway obstructions; procurement of modular air traffic control towers for eight airports; deployment of an aeronautical frequency monitoring and interference detection system; and the replacement and upgrade of Very High Frequency (VHF) radio communication systems in nine airports.
“Another approval relates to navigation infrastructure, the installation of aeronautical frequency spectrum monitoring and interference detection equipment. This enhances communication between ground staff, tower controllers and aircraft approaching or departing our airports,” the Minister explained.
According to him, the new system will significantly improve the reliability of communication between pilots and control towers, a critical element of safe flight operations.
He listed the airports earmarked for the VHF radio communication upgrade, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, and Wukari.
Keyamo further announced presidential approval for the deployment of biometric-enabled electronic gates (e-gates) at all international airports to fast-track passenger processing and enhance travel convenience.
“We now have approval for the provision of biometric-enabled e-gates—widely known as e-gates—to fast-track passenger clearance at all our international airports,” he said.
The Minister stressed that the upgrades align with President Tinubu’s directive to modernise national aviation infrastructure and deliver safer, more efficient air travel across the country.
In other news, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said airlines worldwide paid about $60.4 billion in taxes and charges to governments in 2024.
IATA said that these charges and taxes were added to airline fares and were payable by air passengers in the previous year.
IATA said: “Air transport passengers paid $60.4bn in ticket taxes and charges in 2024. These taxes, added to airline fares, are collected by carriers and passed on to governments.”
Also, in recent weeks, return tickets on flights departing from Lagos, Abuja, and other major routes to the South-south and South-east have increased astronomically.
Routes like Asaba, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Benin, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom are currently priced high by various domestic carriers operating to the airports.
