FAAN Warns Against Unviable State Airport Projects

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, has expressed concerns regarding state governments embarking on airport projects without assessing their viability. He highlighted that the costs associated with airports extend beyond construction, emphasizing that only six airports in Nigeria—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Enugu—handle over 5,000 aircraft movements annually.

In contrast, many state-built airports, such as those in Anambra, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa, and Ebonyi, are deemed unviable. The federal government has taken over some of these airports, but they remain financially unsustainable.

For example, the cargo airport in Lafia, Nasarawa State, initiated by former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura at an estimated cost of N10 billion, has been abandoned, leading to deteriorating facilities. FAAN is now seeking funds to rehabilitate 17 unviable airports, which not only fail to generate revenue but also impose financial burdens on aviation agencies like NAMA and NIMET.