Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo said he would not relent on a plan to concession the five international airports, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

The minister stated this during a budget presentation to the Joint Committee on Aviation Technology. He said he has taken into consideration the concerns of the 9th Assembly regarding the non-transparent manner in which the previous concession was done and affirmed that concession is the way to go for the five international airports.

Recall that former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, faced backlash from the aviation workers’ union over plans to concession the four major airports.

Keyamo, while presenting the budget to the committee, revealed that he had written a memo to the President on the concession of the five international airports.

He further stated that the performance of the 2023 budget is at 40 per cent based on the releases so far.

Speaking on the 2024 budget, he said about N63 billion has been appropriated for the entire ministry and its agencies.

He, however, mentioned that critical projects such as Abuja’s second runway and upgrade and rehabilitation of the old terminal building of the Lagos airport are vital projects that need urgent attention.

Keyamo said five focus areas include ensuring strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s rating by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), support for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses while holding them to the highest international standards.